GIFT  OF 
SEELEY  W.  MUDD 

and 

GEORGE  1.  COCHRAN     MEYER  ELSASSER 
DR.  JOHN  R.  HATNES    WILLIAM  L.  HONNOLD 
JAMES  R.  MARTIN         MRS.  JOSEPH  F.  SARTORI 

to  tin 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SOUTHERN  BRANCH 


JOHN  FISKE 


This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


MAR  27 


.*' "" 

NCV  17  1939 

v 


AUG14 
J.MI  " 


OCT  1  8  1958 


NOV  26  WSti 

OCT  2419^; 


DEC  2Q  1959 
OC5T  20  196ff 


Southern  Branch 
of  the 

University  of  California 

Los  Angeles 


Form 


v- 


A-<" 


785 


anafff 


AMERICAN 

1  Eaj*K-  -0 

2  Sarato,ea-'6 

3  Ticoad«Toga  17 

4  Freble  ~t 


Attack 


KNGUSH 

.1  Chubb  11    ' 
fi  T.innpt  16 
"I  Confiance  3T 
8  Finch  U 


£rigs4-  Schooners 
o  Sloops 
_  Galleys 


3  : 


I  SOMafter  anchoring 


A, 


7  7  hour  of  to-  anchorina 


A////  »f  Ixittte 


6 


THE 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NAVY 


UNITED    STATES 


OF 


AMERICA. 


BY  J.  FENIMORE   COOPER. 


IN    TWO    VOLS. 

VOL.  II. 


' •>"••,"'   'Vi  'V  ;'v  "jSj 
-  ..*<:,, 


LEA  &  BLANCH  ARD, 

SUCCESSORS  TO  CARtY  AND  CO. 

1839. 


8-4  9  S  3 


Entered  according  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1839,  by 
J.   FENIMORE    COOPER, 

In  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  in  and 
for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


',     •   ,'  ' 

.-.  •"•.  •; 

* 

**.  /  \  '•:'•  * 

•  '  ,  • 

,  t  •  ' 

*         *    *  •  * 

•• 

1       •       •        •   •      *     •  • 

''  •''". 

*  • 
*    * 

•  \  V.O  "•  : 

'.  ',',  <  ,  . 

,  ,1  •••    •* 

' 

•  *    •        *        *     *** 

I.  ASHAIEAD  AND  CO., PRINTERS. 


05 


E- 

7 


NAVAL    HISTORY 


OF  THE 


UNITED    STATES. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE  government  soon  became  aware  of  the  necessity  of 
possessing  some  light  cruisers,  which  are  to  a  marine,  what 
the  eyes  and  nerves  are  to  the  physical  formation  of  man. 
Without  vessels  of  this  character,  a  commander  could  ne- 
ver conduct  a  vigorous  blockade,  like  that  required  before 
Tripoli,  in  particular;  and  a  law  passed  February  1803, 
authorising  the  construction  of  two  brigs  and  two  schooji- 
ers.  In  the  course  of  the  spring  of  that  year,  these  vessels 
were  built,  and  the  navy  received  an  addition  to  its  list,  of 
the  Argus  16,  Siren  16,  Nautilus  12,  and  Vixen  12.  The  two 
former  were  beautiful  and  very  efficient  brigs,  mounting 
16  twenty-four-pound  carronades,  and  2  long  twelves;  and 
the  two  latter  were  schooners,  carrying  12  eighteen-pound 
carronades,  and  2  light  long  guns,  each.  They  were  all 
finely  modelled  and  serviceable  vessels  of  their  size,  and 
are  now  intimately  associated  with  the  early  traditions  of 
the  navy.  There  was  a  singular  conformity  in  their 

VOL.  II.— 1 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


fates,  also,  the  whole  four  in  the  end,  falling  into  the  hands 
of  their  enemies. 

When  Com.  Morris  was  recalled,  the  necessity  of  send- 
ing out  a  new  squadron  was  foreseen,  the  times  of  the 
crews  belonging  to  the  ships  left  under  the  orders  of  Com. 
Rodgers  being  so  nearly  up.  Indeed  the  latter  officer, 
when  he  hoisted  his  broad  pennant,  was  notified  that  a  suc- 
cessor must  necessarily  soon  arrive.  The  new  squadron  was 
so  differently  organized  from  the  two  which  had  preceded 
it,  as  to  leave  little  doubt  that  the  administration  had  dis- 
covered the  error  which  had  been  made  in  sending  so  many 
light  frigates  on  this  service;  vessels  that  were  nearly  use- 
less in  a  bombardment,  while  they  could  not  command  the 
shores,  and  that  had  no  other  quality  particularly  suited  to 
the  warfare  in  which  they  were  engaged,  than  a  fitness  to 
convoy.  For  the  latter  employment,  even,  the  same  force 
distributed  in  twice  the  number  of  vessels,  would  have  been 
much  more  efficient  and  safe. 

The  vessels  now  selected  to  carry  on  the  war  against 
Tripoli,  were  of  an  entirely  different  description.  They 
consisted  of  the  Constitution  44,  Philadelphia  38,  Argus  16, 
Siren  16,  Nautilus  12,  Vixen  12,  and  Enterprise  12.  The 
latter  was  already  on  the  station,  and  it  was  intended  to 
keep  her  there,  by  sending  out  men  to  supply  the  places  of 
those  who  declined  to  enter  anew.  As  usual,  these  ships 
sailed  as  they  were  ready;  the  Nautilus  12,  Lieut.  Com. 
Somers,  being  the  first  that  got  to  sea.  This  schooner 
reached  Gibraltar  on  the  27th  of  July,  1803.  She  was  soon 
followed  by  the  Philadelphia  38,  Capt.  Bainbridge,  which 
anchored  at  the  same  place,  August  the  24th.  The  Constitu- 
tion 44,  bearing  the  broad  pennant  of  Com.  Preble,  who 
had  been  chosen  to  command  the  squadron,  arrived  Sep- 
tember 12th ;  the  Vixen  12,  Lieut.  Com.  Smith,  September 
14th;  the  Siren  16,  Lieut.  Com.  Stewart,  October  1st,  and 
the  Argus  16,  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur,  November  1st.  When 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  7 

the  last  fell  in  with  the  Enterprise,  Mr.  Decatur  took  com- 
mand of  that  schooner,  giving  up  the  brig,  by  arrangement, 
to  Mr.  Hull,  who  was  his  senior  officer. 

The  Philadelphia  barely  touched  at  Gibraltar,  but,  hear- 
ing that  two  Tripolitans  were  cruising  off  Cape  de  Gatt, 
Capt.  Bainbridge  proceeded,  without  delay,  in  quest  of 
them.  On  the  night  of  the  26th  of  August,  blowing  fresh, 
two  sail  were  made  from  the  Philadelphia,  under  Cape  de 
Gatt ;  the  largest  of  which,  a  ship,  was  carrying  nothing 
but  a  fore  course.  On  running  along  side  this  vessel,  and 
hailing,  with  a  good  deal  of  difficulty  Capt.  Bainbridge 
learned  that  the  stranger  was  a  Barbary  cruiser.  Further 
examination  discovered  that  this  vessel  belonged  to  the 
Emperor  of  Morocco,  and  that  she  was  the  Meshboha  22, 
commanded  by  Ibrahim  Lubarez,  and  had  a  crew  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-men. 

The  Moors  were  made  to  believe  that  the  Philadelphia 
was  an  English  frigate,  and  they  admitted  that  the  brig  in 
company  was  an  American.  The  suspicions  of  Capt.  Bain- 
bridge were  now. awakened,  for  he  could  not  well  account 
for  the  brig's  being  under  so  little  sail,  and  he  sent  Mr.  Por- 
ter, his  first  lieutenant,  on  board  the  Moor,  to  ascertain  if 
there  were  any  prisoners  in  his  ship.  When  the  boat,  with 
the  ordinary  unarmed  crew,  reached  the  Meshboha,  the 
Moors  refused  to  let  the  officer  come  over  the  side.  Capt. 
Bainbridge  now  directed  an  armed  force  to  go  into  the 
boat,  when  Mr.  Porter  succeeded  in  executing  his  orders, 
without  further  opposition. 

Below  deck,  the  boarding  officer  found  the  master  and 
crew  of  the  brig  in  company,  which  was  ascertained  to  be 
the  Celica  of  Boston,  a  prize  to  the  Meshboha.  The  brig  had 
been  captured  near  Malaga,  nine  days  before ;  and  there 
was  no  doubt  that  the  Moors  were  waiting  for  other  ves- 
sels, Cape  de  Gatt  being  a  head-land  commonly  made  by 


8  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

every  thing  that  keeps  the  north  shore  of  the  Mediterranean 
aboard. 

Capt.  Bainbridge,  on  receiving  this  intelligence,  did  not 
hesitate  about  taking  possession  of  the  Meshboha.  Her 
people  could  not  all  be  removed  until  near  day-light ;  and 
during  the  time  that  was  occupied  in  transferring  them  to 
the  frigate,  the  brig  had  disappeared.  On  the  afternoon  of 
the  27th,  however,  she  was  seen  doubling  the  cape,  coming 
from  the  eastward,  and  hugging  the  land,  while  she  steered 
in  the  direction  of  Almeria,  probably  with  the  hope  of  get- 
ting to  the  westward  of  the  ships,  in  order  to  run  to  Tan- 
giers.  Owing  to  light  winds,  it  was  midnight  before  she 
could  be  re-taken.  The  Celica  was  then  given  up  to  her 
proper  master,  and  she  proceeded  on  her  voyage. 

It  was  now  all-important  to  discover  on  what  authority 
this  capture  had  been  made.  The  Moorish  commander,  at 
first,  stated  that  he  had  taken  the  Celica,  in  anticipation  of 
a  war,  a  serious  misunderstanding  existing  between  the 
Emperor  and  the  American  consul,  when  he  left  port.  This 
story  seemed  so  improbable  that  it  was  not  believed,  and 
Capt.  Bainbridge  could  only  get  at  the  truth  by  threatening 
to  execute  his  prisoner  as  a  pirate,  unless  he  showed  his 
commission.  This  menace  prevailed,  and  Ibrahim  Lubarez 
presented  an  order  from  the  Governor  of  Tangiers,  to  cap- 
ture all  Americans  he  might  fall  in  with. 

The  Philadelphia  returned  to  Gibraltar  with  her  prize, 
and  leaving  the  latter,  she  went  off  Cape  St.  Vincent,  in 
quest  of  a  Moorish  frigate  that  was  said  to  be  cruising 
there.  Finding  the  report  false.  Capt.  Bainbridge  ran 
through  the  straits  again,  and  went  aloft,  it  being  under- 
stood that  the  ships  employed  above,  would  be  coming 
down  about  this  time. 

Shortly  after  the  Philadelphia  had  gone  to  her  station  off 
Tripoli,  the  New  York  36,  Corn.  Rodgers,  and  the  John 
Adams  28,  Capt.  Campbell,  reached  Gibraltar,  in  the  expec- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  9 

tation  of  meeting  the  new  flag-ship.  In  a  day  or  two  the 
Constitution  came  in,  as  did  the  Nautilus,  which  had  been 
giving  convoy  up  the  Mediterranean.  As  soon  as  Com. 
Preble  was  apprised  of  the  facts  connected  with  the  capture 
of  the  Meshboha,  he  saw  the  necessity  of  disposing  of  the 
question  with  Morocco,  before  he  left  the  entrance  of  the 
Mediterranean  open,  by  going  off  Tripoli.  Com.  Rodgers 
was  the  senior  officer,  and  his  authority  in  those  seas  had 
properly  ceased,  but,  in  the  handsomest  manner,  he  con- 
sented to  accompany  Com.  Preble  to  Tangiers,  leaving 
the  latter  his  power  to  act,  as  negotiator  and  commander- 
in-chief.  Accordingly  the  Constitution  44,  New  York  36, 
John  Adams  28,  and  Nautilus  12,  went  into  the  Bay  of 
Tangiers,  October  the  6th,  1803.  Com.  Preble,  on  this  oc- 
casion, discovered  that  promptitude,  spirit  and  discretion, 
which  were  afterwards  so  conspicuous  in  his  character; 
and  after  a  short  negotiation,  the  relations  of  the  two  coun- 
tries were  placed  on  their  former  amicable  footing.  The 
commodore  had  an  interview  with  the  Emperor,  which  ter- 
minated in  the  happiest  results.  On  the  part  of  Morocco, 
the  act  of  the  Governor  of  Tangiers  was  disavowed;  an 
American  vessel  that  had  been  detained  at  Mogadore,  was 
released ;  arid  the  Emperor  affixed  his  seal  anew  to  the 
treaty  of  1786.  The  Commodore  then  gave  up  the  Mesh- 
boha, and  it  was  also  agreed  to  return  the  Meshouda,  the 
ship  taken  by  the  John  Adams  in  1803.  Congress,  in  the 
end,  however,  appropriated  an  equivalent  to  the  captors  of 
these  two  vessels,  in  lieu  of  prize-money. 

As  soon  as  the  difficulties  with  Morocco  were  settled, 
Com.  Rodgers  sailed  for  America ;  and  Com.  Preble  devot- 
ed himself  with  energy  and  prudence  in  making  his  prepa- 
rations to  bring  Tripoli  to  terms.  The  latter  had  an  arduous 
task  before  him  ;  and  its  difficulties  were  increased  by  the 
circumstance  that  he  was  personally  known  to  scarcely  an 
officer  under  his  command.  During  the  war  with  France, 

1* 


10  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  ships  had  been  principally  officered  from  the  states  in 
which  they  had  been  built,  and  Capt.  Preble,  a  citizen  of  New 
Hampshire,  had  hitherto  commanded  vessels  under  these 
circumstances.  He  had  sailed  for  the  East  Indies  in  1800, 
in  the  Essex  32,  and  had  been  much  removed  from  the 
rest  of  the  navy,  in  the  course  of  his  service.  By  one  of 
those  accidents  that  so  often  influence  the  affairs  of  life,  all 
the  commanders  placed  under  the  orders  of  Com.  Preble, 
with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Hull,  came  from  the  middle  or 
the  southern  states ;  and  it  is  believed  that  most  of  them  had 
never  even  seen  their  present  commander,  until  they  went 
in  person  to  report  themselves  and  their  vessels.  This  was 
not  only  true  of  the  commanders,  but  a  large  portion  of 
the  subordinate  officers,  also,  were  in  the  same  situation ; 
even  most  of  those  in  the  Constitution  herself,  having  been 
personally  strangers  to  the  commander  of  the  squadron.* 
The  period  was  now  approaching  when  the  force  about  to 

ir 

*  Com.  Preble  was  a  man  of  high  temper,  and  a  rigid  disciplinarian. 
At  first  he  was  disliked  in  his  own  ship;  the  younger  officers,  in  particu- 
lar, feeling  the  effects  of  his  discipline  without  having  yet  learned  to 
respect  the  high  professional  qualities  for  which  he  afterwards  became 
so  distinguished.  One  night  while  the  Constitution  was  in  the  straits  of 
Gibraltar,  she  suddenly  found  herself  along  side  a  large  ship.  Some 
hailing  passed,  without  either  party's  giving  an  answer.  Com.  Preble, 
who  had  taken  the  trumpet  himself,  now  told  the  name  and  country  of 
his  ship,  and  his  own  rank.  He  then  demanded  the  name  of  the  stranger, 
adding,  that  he  would  fire  a  shot,  unless  answered.  "  If  you  fire  a  shot, 
I'll  return  a  broadside,"  was  the  reply.  Preble  sprang  into  his  mizzen- 
rigging,  applied  the  trumpet,  and  said,  "this  is  the  United  States'  ship, 
Constitution,  a  44,  Com.  Edward  Preble;  I  am  about  to  hail  you,  for 
the  last  time;  if  not  answered,'  I  shall  fire  into  you. — What  ship  is  that?" 
"This  is  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship,  Donnegal,  a  razee  of  60  guns." 
Preble  told  the  stranger  he  doubted  his  statement,  and  should  lie  by  him, 
until  morning,  in  order  to  ascertain  his  real  character.  He  was  as  good 
as  his  word,  and  in  a  short  time  a  boat  came  from  the  other  vessel  to  ex- 
plain. It  was  an  English  frigate,  and  the  Constitution  had  got  so  suddenly 
and  unexpectedly  along  side  of  her,  that  the  hesitation  about  answering, 
and  the  fictitious  name,  had  proceeded  from  a  desire  to  gain  time,  in  or- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  11 

be  employed  before  Tripoli,  was  to  assemble,  however,  and 
a  service  was  in  perspective  that  promised  to  let  the  whole 
squadron  into  the  secret  of  its  commander's  true  character. 
Previously  to  relating  the  events  that  then  occurred,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  return  to  the  movements  of  the  Philadelphia 
38,  Capt.  Bainbridge. 

der  to  clear  the  ship,  and  to  get  to  quarters.  The  spirit  of  Com.  Preble 
on  this  occasion,  produced  a  very  favourable  impression  in  his  own  ship  ; 
the  young  men  pithily  remarking,  that  if  he  were  wrong  in  his  temper,  he 
was  right  in  his  heart. 


12  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  II. 


IT  has  been  seen  that  the  Philadelphia  captured  the 
Meshboha,  on  the  night  of  the  26th  of  August,  1803.  The 
return  to  Gibraltar,  the  run  off  Cape  Vincent,  and  the 
passage  up  the  Mediterranean  brought  it  late  in  the  season, 
before  that  ship  could  reach  her  station.  Here  the  Vixen  12, 
Lieut.  Com.  Smith,  which  schooner  had  arrived  at  Gibral- 
tar about  the  middle  of  September,  appeared  also,  and  the 
blockade  was  resumed  by  these  two  vessels,  the  Enterprise 
having  gone  below.  Unfortunately,  soon  after  his  arrival, 
Capt.  Bainbridge  sent  the  schooner  in  quest  of  a  Tripoli- 
tan  cruiser,  that  he  learned  from  the  master  of  a  neutral, 
had  got  to  sea  a  short  time  previously.  This  left  the  frigate 
alone,  to  perform  a  very  delicate  service,  the  blockading 
vessels  being  constantly  compelled  to  chase  in-shore. 

Towards  the  last  of  the  month  of  October,  the  wind, 
which  had  been  strong  from  the  westward,  for  some  time 
previously,  drove  the  Philadelphia  a  considerable  distance 
to  the  eastward  of  the  town,  and  on  Monday,  October  the 
31st,  as  she  was  running  down  to  her  station  again,  with 
a  fair  breeze,  about  nine  in  the  morning,  a  vessel  was  seen 
in-shore  and  to  windward,  standing  for  Tripoli.  Sail  was 
made  to  cut  her  off.  Believing  himself  to  be  within  long  gun 
shot  a  little  before  eleven,  and  seeing  no  other  chance  of 
overtaking  the  stranger  in  the  distance  that  remained,  Capt. 
Bainbridge  opened  a  fire,  in  the  hope  of  cutting  something 
away.  For  near  an  hour  longer,  the  chase  and  the  fire 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  13 

were  continued;  the  lead,  which  was  constantly  kept  going, 
giving  from  seven  to  ten  fathoms,  and  the  ship  hauling  up  and 
keeping  away,  as  the  water  shoaled  or  deepened.  At  half 
past  eleven,  Tripoli  then  being  in  plain  sight,  distant  a  little 
more  than  a  league,  satisfied  that  he  could  neither  overtake 
the  chase,  nor  force  her  ashore,  Capt.  Bainbridge  ordered 
the  helm  a-port,  to  haul  directly  off  the  land  into  deep  water. 
The  next  cast  of  the  lead,  when  this  order  was  executed, 
gave  but  eight  fathoms,  and  this  was  immediately  followed 
by  casts  that  gave  seven,  and  six  and  a  half.  At  this  moment, 
the  wind  was  nearly  abeam,  and  the  ship  had  eight  knots 
way  on  her.  When  the  cry  of"  half-six"  was  heard,  the  helm 
was  put  hard  down,  and  the  yards  were  ordered  to  be 
braced  sharp  up.  While  the  ship  was  coming  up  fast  to 
the  wind,  and  before  she  had  lost  any  of  her  way,  she 
struck  a  reef  forwards,  and  shot  up  on  it,  until  she  lifted  be- 
tween five  and  six  feet. 

This  was  an  appalling  accident  to  occur  on  the  coast  of 
such  an  enemy,  at  that  season  of  the  year,  and  with  no 
other  cruiser  near!  It  was  first  attempted  to  force  the 
vessel  ahead,  under  the  impression  that  the  best  water  was 
to  sea-ward ;  but  on  sounding  around  the  ship,  it  was  found 
that  she  had  run  up  with  such  force,  as  to  lie  nearly  cradled 
on  the  rocks,  there  being  only  14  feet  of  water  under  the 
fore  chains,  while  the  ship  drew,  before  striking,  18^  feet 
forward.  Astern  there  were  not  18  feet  of  water,  instead 
of  20^,  which  the  frigate  needed.  Such  an  accident  could 
only  have  occurred  by  the  vessel's  hitting  the  reef  at  a  spot 
where  it  sloped  gradually,  and  where,  most  probably  the 
constant  washing  of  the  element,  had  rendered  the  surface 
smooth;  and  by  her  going  up,  on  top  of  one  of  those  long, 
heavy,  but  nearly  imperceptible  swells,-  that  are  always 
agitating  the  bosom  of  the  ocean. 

The  vessel  of  which  the  Philadelphia  had  been  in  chase 
was  a  large  xebeck,  and  her  commander,  acquainted  with 


14  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  coast,  stood  on,  inside  of  the  reef,  doubled  the  edge  of 
the  shoal,  and  reached  Tripoli  in  safety.  The  firing,  how- 
ever, had  brought  out  nine  gun  boats,  which  now  appeared, 
turning  to  windward.  Not  a  moment  was  to  be  lost,  as  it 
would  shortly  be  in  the  power  of  these  vessels  to  assail  the 
frigate,  almost  with  impunity.  Finding,  on  further  exami- 
nation, deep  water  astern,  the  yards  were  next  braced 
aback,  and  the  guns  were  run  aft,  in  the  equally  vain  hope 
of  forcing  the  ship  astern,  or  to  make  her  slide  off  the 
sloping  rocks  on  which  she  had  run  so  hard.  It  was  some 
time,,  before  this  project  was  abandoned,  as  it  was  the 
most  practicable  means  of  getting  afloat. 

On  a  consultation  with  his  officers,  Capt.  Bainbridge 
next  gave  orders  to  throw  overboard  all  the  guns,  after 
reserving  a  few  aft,  that  were  retained  for  defence;  and 
the  anchors,  with  the  exception  of  the  larboard  bower,  were 
cut  from  the  bows.  Before  this  could  be  effected  the  enemy 
came  within  gun  shot,  and  opened  his  fire.  Fortunately, 
the  Tripolitans  were  ignorant  of  the  desperate  condition  of 
the  Philadelphia,  and  were  kept  at  a  respectful  distance,  by 
the  few  guns  that  remained  ;  else  they  might  have  des- 
troyed most  of  the  crew,  it  being  certain  that  the  colours 
would  not  be  struck,  so  long  as  there  was  any  hope  of 
getting  the  ship  afloat.  The  cannonade,  which  was  dis- 
tant and  inefficient,  and  the  business  of  lightening  the  fri- 
gate went  on  at  the  same  time,  and  occupied  several  hours. 

The  enemy  finally  became  so  bold,  that  they  crossed  the 
stern  of  the  frigate,  where  alone  they  were  at  all  exposed 
to  her  fire,  and  took  a  position  on  her  starboard,  or  weather 
quarter.  Here  it  was  impossible  to  touch  them,  the  ship 
having  sewed  to  port,  in  a  way  to  render  it  impracticable 
to  bring  a  single  gun  to  bear,  or,  indeed,  to  use  one  at  all, 
on  that  side. 

Capt.  Bainbridge,  now  called  another  counsel  of  his  offi- 
cers, and  it  was  determined  to  make  a  last  effort  to  get  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  15 

vessel  off.  The  water  casks,  in  the  hold,  were  started,  and 
the  water  was  pumped  out.  All  the  heavy  articles  that 
could  be  got  at,  were  thrown  overboard,  and  finally  the 
fore-mast  was  cut  away,  bringing  down  with  it  the  main- 
top-gallant-mast. Notwithstanding  all  this,  the  vessel  re- 
mained as  immoveable,  as  the  rocks  on  which  she  lay. 

The  gun  boats  were  growing  bolder  every  minute,  others 
were  approaching,  and  night  was  at  hand.  Capt.  Bain- 
bridge,  after  consulting  again,  with  his  officers,  felt  it  to 
be  an  imperious  duty  to  haul  down  his  flag,  to  save  the  lives 
of  the  people.  Before  this  was  done,  however,  the  maga- 
zine was  drowned,  holes  were  bored  in  the  ship's  bottom, 
the  pumps  were  choked,  and  every  thing  was  performed 
that  it  was  thought  would  make  sure  of  the  final  loss  of  the 
vessel.  About  five  o'clock  the  colours  were  lowered. 

It  is  a  curious  circumstance  that  this  was  the  second  in- 
stance in  which  an  American  vessel  of  war  had  been  com- 
pelled to  haul  down  her  flag,  since  the  formation  of  the  new 
marine,  and  that  in  each  case  the  same  officer  commanded. 
After  the  accounts  given  in  this  work,  it  is  unnecessary  to 
add  that  on  both  occasions  an  imperious  necessity  produced 
this  singular  coincidence. 

The  ship  had  no  sooner  struck  than  the  gun-boats  ran 
down  along  side  of  her,  and  took  possession.  The  barba- 
rians rushed  into  the  vessel,  and  began  to  plunder  their 
captives.  Not  only  were  the  clothes,  which  the  Ameri- 
cans had  collected  in  their  bags  and  in  bundles,  taken  from 
them,  but  many  officers  and  rnen  were  stripped  half  naked. 
They  were  hurried  into  boats,  and  sent  to  Tripoli,  and  even 
on  the  passage  the  business  of  plundering  went  on.  The 
officers  w^re  respected  little  more  than  the  common  men, 
and,  while  in  the  boat,  Capt.  Bainbridge  himself,  was  robbed 
of  his  epaulets,  gloves,  watch,  and  money.  His  cravat  was 
even  torn  from  his  neck.  He  wore  a  miniature  of  his  .wife, 
and  of  this  the  Tripolitans  endeavoured  to  deprive  him 


,*• 


16  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

also,  but,  a  youthful  and  attached  husband,  he  resisted  so 
seriously  that  the  attempt  was  relinquished. 

It  was  near  10  o'clock  at  night,  when  the  boats  reached 
the  town.  The  prisoners  were  landed  in  a  body,  near  the 
bashaw's  palace,  and  they  were  conducted  to  his  presence. 
The  prince  received  his  captives  in  an  audience  hall,  seated 
in  a  chair  of  state,  and  surrounded  by  his  ministers.  Here 
Capt.  Bainbridge  was  formally  presented  to  him,  as  his 
prisoner,  when  the  bashaw  himself,  directed  all  the  officers 
to  be  seated.  The  minister  of  foreign  affairs,  Moham- 
med D'Ghies,  spoke  French,  and  through  him,  the  bashaw 
held  a  conversation  of  some  length  with  Capt.  Bainbridge. 
The  latter  was  asked  many  questions  concerning  the  Phila- 
delphia, the  force  of  the  Americans  in  the  Mediterranean, 
and  he  was  civilly  consoled  for  his  captivity,  by  being  re- 
minded that  it  was  merely  the  fortune  of  war. 

When  the  conversation  had  ended,  the  officers  were  con- 
ducted to  another  apartment,  where  a  supper  had  been  pro- 
vided, and  as  soon  as  this  meal  had  been  taken  by  those  who 
had  the  hearts  to  eat,  they  were  led  back  to  the  audience  hall, 
and  paid  their  parting  compliments  to  the  bashaw.  Here 
the  captives  were  informed  that  they  were  put  under  the 
special  charge  of  Sidi  Mohammed  D'Ghies,  who  conducted 
them  to  the  house  that  had  lately  been  the  American  con- 
sulate. The  building  was  spacious  and  commodious,  but 
almost  destitute  of  furniture.  It  was  one  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  but  at  that  late  hour  ev^n,  appeared  Mr.  Nissen, 
the  Danish  consul,  bringing  with  him  the  consolations  of 
sympathy  and  hope.  This  benevolent  man,  was  introduced 
to  Capt.  Bainbridge,  by  Mohammed  D'Ghies,  as  his  perso- 
nal friend,  and  as  one  on  whose  honour,  humanity  and  good 
faith,  full  reliance  might  be  placed.  Mohammed  D'Ghies, 
himself,  was  known  by  reputation  to  Capt.  Bainbridge,  and 
he  had  shown  delicacy  and  feeling  in  the  exercise  of  his 
trust.  His  recommendation,  which  was  pointedly  signifi- 


IV AVAL  HISTORY.  17 

cant,  coupled  with  the  manner  of  M.  Nissen,  excited  a  con- 
fidence that  in  the  end  proved  to  be  most  worthily  bestowed. 
Every  thing  that  could  be  devised,  at  that  unseasonable  hour, 
was  done  by  M.  Nissen.  This  was  but  the  commencement 
of  a  series  of  indefatigable  and  unwearying  kindnesses  that 
endured  to  the  last  moment  of  the  captivity  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. 

The  misfortune  that  befell  the  Philadelphia,  made  a  mate- 
rial difference  in  the  state  of  the  war.  Until  this  moment, 
the  bashaw  had  received  but  little  to  compensate  him  for  the 
inconvenience  to  which  he  was  put  by  the  blockade,  and 
for  the  loss  of  his  different  cruisers.  His  corsairs  had  cap- 
tured but  very  few  merchant  vessels,  and  they  ran  the 
greatest  risks,  whenever  they  appeared  out  of  their  own 
ports.  As  yet,  it  is  true,  nothing  had  been  attempted 
against  his  town,  but  he  knew  it  was  at  any  time  liable 
to  a  vigorous  bombardment.  It  was  thought,  therefore, 
that  he  was  not  indisposed  to  peace,  when  accident  threw 
the  crew  of  the  Philadelphia  into  his  power. 

The  bashaw,  however,  had  now  a  hold  upon  his  enemy, 
that,  agreeably  to  the  usages  of  Barbary,  enabled  him  to 
take  much  higher  ground,  in  proposing  his  terms.  In  his 
previous  negotiations,  he  had  asked  a  large  sum  as  the  price 
of  the  few  captives  he  then  held,  but  the  terms  had  been  re- 
jected as  unreasonable  and  exorbitant.  On  board  the  Phila- 
delphia were  three  hundred  and  fifteen  souls,  and  among 
them  were  no  less  than  twenty-two  quarter-deck  officers,* 


*  William  Bainbridge,  captain;  David  Porter,  first  lieutenant;  Jacob 
Jones,  second  do. ;  Theodore  Hunt,  third  do,;  Benj.  Smith,  fourth  do.; 
Win.  Osborn,  lieutenant  of  marines;  John  Ridgely,  surgeon;  J.  Cowdery, 
do.  mate;  Nicholas  Harwood,  do.  do.;  Keith  Spence,  purser;  and  Bernard 
Henry,  James  Gibbon,  Benj.  Franklin  Reed,  James  Renshaw,  Wallace 
Wormley,  Robert  Gamble,  James  Biddle,  Rich.  R.  Jones,  Dan.  T.  Patter- 
son, Simon  Smith,  and  Wm.  Cutbush,  midshipmen;  Wm.  Adams,  captain's 
clerk.  Of  these  gentlemen,  Messrs.  J.  Jones,  Renshaw,  Biddle,  and  Pat- 

VOL.  IL— 2 


18  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

gentlemen  in  whose  fortunes  the  bashaw  well  knew  there 
would  be  a  lively  interest  felt,  to  say  nothing  of  the  concern 
that  a  government  like  that  of  America  was  expected  to 
manifest  for  the  fate  of  its  seamen.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, therefore,  the  divan  of  Tripoli  felt  strongly  encou- 
raged, by  the  capture  it  had  made,  to  continue  the  war,  in 
the  hope  of  receiving  a  high  ransom  for  the  prisoners,  and 
in  the  expectation  of  holding  a  check  on  the  measures  of  its 
enemy,  by  its  means  of  retaliation. 

The  Philadelphia  ran  on  the  reef  on  the  31st  of  October, 
and  her  people  were  landed  during  the  night  of  the  same  day. 
The  Tripolitans  set  about  their  arrangements  to  get  the  ship 
off,  next  morning,  and  as  they  were  near  their  own  port,  had 
so  many  gun-boats  and  galleys  at  their  disposal,  and  were 
unmolested  by  any  cruiser,  it  was  soon  announced  to  the 
bashaw  that  there  were  hopes  of  saving  the  frigate.  In  the 
course  of  the  2d  of  November,  it  came  on  to  blow  fresh 
from  the  north-west,  and  the  wind  forcing  the  water  up  on 
the  African  coast,  while  it  bore  on  the  larboard  quarter  of 
the  ship,  her  stern  was  driven  round,  and  she  floated,  in 
part,  though  she  continued  to  thump,  as  the  seas  left  her. 
Anchors  were  now  carried  out,  all  the  disposable  force  of  the 
town  was  applied,  and  on  the  5th,  the  Philadelphia  was  got 
into  deep  water.  The  same  day,  she  was  brought  within 
two  miles  of  the  city,  where  she  was  compelled  to  anchor, 
on  account  of  the  state  of  the  weather.  Here  she  was  kept 
afloat  by  means  of  pumping,  while  men  were  employed  in 
stopping  the  leaks.  The  business  of  scuttling  appears  to 
have  been  but  imperfectly  performed,  a  few  holes  having 
been  merely  bored  in  the  bottom  of  the  ship,  instead  of  cut- 
ting through  the  planks,  as  had  been  ordered.  The  weather 
continuing  remarkably  fine,  the  Turks  finally  succeeded  in 

terson,  are  still  in  service,  and  have  all  worn  broad  pennants.    Dr.  Cow- 
dery  is  the  oldest  surgeon  now  in  the  navy. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  19 

not  only  getting  the  ship  into  port,  but  in  weighing  all  her 
guns  and  anchors,  which  lay  in  shallow  water  on  the  reef, 
as  well  as  in  getting  up  nearly  every  thing  else  that  had 
been  thrown  overboard.  The  ship  was  partially  repaired, 
her  guns  were  remounted,  and  she  was  moored  off  the  town, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  bashaw's  castle. 

Leaving  Capt.  Bainbridge,  and  his  fellow  sufferers,  to  en- 
dure the  privations  and  hardships  of  a  captivity  in  Barbary, 
it  is  now  necessary  to  return  to  the  other  vessels  of  the 
American  squadron,  to  do  which  we  must  go  back  a  few 
days  in  the  order  of  time. 

Com.  Preble,  on  his  return  from  Tangiers  to  Gibraltar,  on 
the  15th  of  October,  went  round  to  Cadiz ;  soon  after,  he  re- 
appeared at  the  former  place,  made  a  formal  announcement 
of  the  blockade  of  Tripoli,  on  the  12th  of  November,  on 
which  day,  the  ship  he  believed  to  be  in  the  active  execu- 
tion of  that  duty,  was  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy,  and 
on  the  13th,  he  sailed  for  Algiers.  After  landing  a  consul, 
at  the  latter  place,  he  proceeded  to  Malta,  off  which  port  he 
arrived  on  the  27th  of  November.  Here  he  was  met  by 
letters  from  Capt.  Bainbridge,  and  he  obtained  a  confirma- 
tion of  the  loss  of  the  Philadelphia,  a  rumour  of  which  event 
had  reached  him  lower  down  on  the  coast.  The  Constitu- 
tion sailed  immediately  for  Syracuse,  and  got  in  next  day. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  1803,  Com.  Preble,  after  mak- 
ing his  preparations  and  disposing  of  his  force  in  different 
ways,  sailed  for  Tripoli,  with  the  Enterprise  in  company, 
off  which  place  he  now  appeared  for  the  first  time.  The 
23d  of  the  month,  the  Enterprise  12,  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur, 
fell  in  with  and  captured  a  ketch,  called  the  Mastico,  with 
70  souls  on  board.  The  Mastico  had  been  a  French  gun- 
vessel  in  Egypt,  that  had  been  taken  by  the  English,  and 
had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Tripolitans.  She  was  now 
bound  to  Constantinople,  with  a  present  of  female  slaves  for 
the  Porte.  A  few  days  after  this  prize  was  taken,  it  came 


20  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

on  to  blow  heavily  from  the  north-east,  and  finding  the  fri- 
gate in  danger  of  being  lost  on  the  coast,  at  that  tempestu- 
ous season,  Com.  Preble  returned  to  Syracuse;  not,  how- 
ever, until  he  had  reconnoitred  his  enemy,  and  formed  his 
plan  of  operations  for  the  future.  Means  had  been  found 
to  communicate  with  Capt.  Bainbridge,  also,  and  several 
letters  were  received  from  that  officer,  pointing  out  different 
methods  of  annoying  the  enemy. 

In  a  letter  of  the  date  of  the  5th  of  December,  1803,  Capt. 
Bainbridge  suggested  the  possibility  of  destroying  the  Phila- 
delphia, which  ship  was  slowly  fitting  for  sea,  there  being  little 
doubt  of  her  being  sent  out  as  a  cruiser,  as  soon  as  the  mild 
season  should  arrive.  Com.  Preble  listened  to  this  suggestion, 
and  being  much  in  the  society  of  the  commander  of  the  vessel 
that  was  most  in  company  with  the  Constitution,  Lieut.  Ste- 
phen Decatur,  he  mentioned  the  project  to  that  spirited  of- 
ficer. The  expedition  was  just  suited  to  the  ardour  and 
temperament  of  Mr.  Decatur,  and  the  possession  of  the 
Mastico,  at  once  afforded  the  means  of  carrying  it  into 
effect.  The  ketch  was  accordingly  appraised,  named  the 
Intrepid,  and  taken  into  the  service,' as  a  tender.  About  this 
time,  Lieut.  Com.  Stewart,  of  the  Siren,  the  officer  who  was 
then  second  in  command  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  who 
had  just  arrived  from  below,  offered  to  cut  out  the  Philadel- 
phia with  his  own  brig;  but  Com.  Preble  was  pledged  to  Mr. 
Decatur,  who,  at  first,  had  proposed  to  run  in  with  the  Enter- 
prise and  carry  the  ship.  The  more  experienced  Preble 
rejected  the  propositions  of  both  these  ardent  young  men, 
substituting  a  plan  of  his  own. 

Although  Com.  Preble  declined  the  proposal  of  Mr.  De- 
catur to  carry  in  the  Enterprise,  the  projected  service  was 
assigned  to  the  commander  and  crew  of  that  schooner.  It 
being  necessary,  however,  to  leave  a  few  of  her  own  officers 
and  people  in  her,  a  selection  of  a  few  gentlemen  to  join  the 
expedition,  was  made  from  the  flag  ship,  and  orders  to  that 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  21 

effect  were  issued  accordingly.  These  orders  were  dated 
February  the  3d,  1804,  and  they  directed  the  different  gen- 
tlemen named  to  report  themselves  to  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur, 
of  the  Enterprise.  As  it  was  intended  that  the  crew  of  the 
schooner  should  furnish  the  entire  crew  of  the  ketch,  it  was 
not  thought  proper  to  add  any  men  to  this  draft.  In  short, 
the  duty  was  strictly  assigned  to  the  Enterprise,  so  far  as 
her  complement  could  furnish  the  officers  required.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  3d,  according  to  the  orders  they  had  just 
received,  Messrs.  Izard,  Morris,  Laws,  Davis,  and  Rowe, 
all  midshipmen  of  the  Constitution,  went  on  board  the 
schooner,  and  reported  themselves  for  duty  to  her  com- 
mander. All  hands  were  now  called  in  the  Enterprise, 
when  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur  acquainted  his  people  with  the 
destination  of  the  ketch,  and  asked  for  volunteers.  Every 
man  and  boy  in  the  schooner  presented  himself,  as  ready 
and  willing  to  go.  Sixty-two  of  the  most  active  men  were 
selected,  and  the  remainder,  with  a  few  officers,  were  left 
to  take  care  of  the  vessel.  As  the  orders  to  destroy  the 
frigate,  and  not  to  attempt  to  bring  her  out,  were  peremp- 
tory, the  combustibles,  which  had  been  prepared  for  this 
purpose,  were  immediately  sent  on  board  the  Intrepid,  her 
crew  followed,  and  that  evening  the  ketch  sailed,  under  the 
convoy  of  the  Siren  16,  Lieut.  Com.  Stewart,  who  was  pro- 
perly the  senior  officer  of  the  expedition,  though,  owing  to 
the  peculiar  nature  of  the  service,  Mr.  Decatur  was  per- 
mitted to  conduct  the  more  active  part  of  the  duly,  at  his 
own  discretion. 

The  party  in  the  ketch  consisted  of  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur; 
Lieuts.  Lawrence,  Bainbridge,  and  Thorn;  Mr.  Thomas 
M'Donough,  midshipman,  and  Dr.  Heerman,  surgeon;  all 
of  the  Enterprise; — Messrs.  Izard,  Morris,  Laws,  Davis, 
and  Rowe,  midshipmen,  of  the  Constitution;  and  Salvador 
Catalano,  the  pilot,  with  G2  petty  officers  and  common  men, 
making  a  total  of  74  souls. 

2* 


22  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  the  accommodations 
were  none  of  the  best,  with  so  many  persons  cooped  up  in 
a  vessel  of  between  forty  and  fifty  tons ;  and  to  make  the 
matter  worse,  it  was  soon  found  that  the  salted  meat  put  on 
board  was  spoiled,  and  that  there  was  little  besides  bread 
and  water  left  to  subsist  on.  The  weather,  however,  was 
pleasant,  and  the  wind  favourable,  and  the  two  vessels  got 
in  sight  of  Tripoli  on  the  afternoon  of  the  9th.  To  prevent 
suspicions,  the  Intrepid  now  went  ahead  of  the  Siren;  and  a 
little  after  dark,  she  had  stretched  in  quite  near  to  the  coast, 
with  a  breeze  at  south-west,  anchoring  about  a  mile  to 
windward  of  the  town.  Shortly  after,  the  Siren,  disguised, 
brought-to  a  little  to  seaward  of  her.  The  night  came  on 
dark,  and  threatening,  but  it  was  in  some  respects  so  fa- 
vourable to  the  enterprise,  that  Mr.  Decatur  was  reluctant 
to  let  it  pass  without  making  the  attempt.  The  weather 
underwent  a  sudden  change,  as  is  common  on  that  coast, 
and  for  a  short  time  it  was  doubtful  what  was  proper  to  be 
done.  The  pilot,  however,  pronounced  it  extremely  hazard- 
ous to  venture  in  among  the  rocks,  at  that  moment,  as  he 
thought  the  sea  must  be  breaking  across  the  entrance,  by 
which  it  was  proposed  to  pass.  Under  the  circumstances, 
Mr.  Docatur,  who  displayed  as  much  conduct  and  prudence 
as  daring  gallantry  throughout  this  whole  affair,  sent  Mr. 
Morris  and  the  pilot,  in  a  boat  with  muffled  oars,  to  recon- 
noitre. This  young  officer  pulled  close  up  to  the  western 
passage,  and  ascertained  that  the  sea  was  so  high  that  it 
was,  in  fact,  breaking  entirely  across  the  entrance ;  when 
he  returned  and  reported  that  it  would  be  hazardous  to  go 
in,  and  that  to  come  out  would,  be  impossible. 

The  report  was  scarcely  needed,  for,  by  this  time,  the 
wind  had  risen  so  high,  and  so  much  sea  had  got  up,  that 
in  hoisting  in  the  boat,  it  was  stove,  and  when  the  anchor 
was  weighed,  for  it  was  necessary  to  get  off  the  land  as 
soon  as  possible,  it  was  found  to  be  broken.  The  Siren  had 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  23 

anchored  a  little  without  the  ketch,  and  had  hoisted  out  and 
armed  her  boats,  which  were  to  cover  the  retreat,  but  she, 
too,  was  compelled  to  get  under  way,  by  the  increasing 
violence  of  the  wind.  Several  hours  were  employed  in  a 
vain  attempt  to  get  her  anchor,  the  brig  rolling  gunwales-to, 
and  a  good  many  of  her  people,  together  with  Lieut.  Com. 
Stewart,  were  hurt  by  the  capstan's  running  away  with  the 
bars.  In  the  end,  the  weather  came  on  so  bad,  and  the 
danger  of  being  seen  as  the  day  dawned  was  so  much  in- 
creased, that  the  anchor  and  cable  were  left,  the  latter  hav- 
ing been  cut  without  the  hawse-holes. 

So  sudden  and  violent  was  the  gale,  that  there  had  been 
no  communication  between  the  two  vessels,  the  Siren  having 
no  other  intimation  of  the  departure  of  the  ketch,  than  by  see- 
ing her  light,  as  she  stretched  out  to  sea.  Luckily,  the  wind 
was  well  to  the  westward,  and  both  vessels  got  an  offing 
before  they  were  seen  from  Tripoli.  Here  they  lay  to,  with 
their  heads  off  shore,  certain  of  being  far  enough  to  lee- 
ward, to  be  out  of  sight,  in  the  morning.  The  wind  be- 
gan to  haul  to  the  northward,  and  the  gale  lasted  six  days, 
during  which  time  great  fears  were  entertained  of  the 
ketch's  foundering  at  sea,  or  of  her  being,  at  least,  driven 
on  the  coast,  the  change  in  the  wind  having  brought  the 
vessels  on  a  lee  shore.  Before  the  wind  abated,  they  were 
driven  up  into  the  gulf  of  Sydra,  where  they  were  fairly 
embayed. 

On  the  15th  the  weather  moderated,  and  the  brig  and 
ketch,  which  had  kept  in  company,  notwithstanding  the 
gale,  endeavoured  to  fetch  in  with  the  land,  and  in  the 
course  of  the  night  they  got  so  near,  as  to  reconnoitre  and 
ascertain  their  position.  Finding  themselves  too  far  to  the 
eastward  to  effect  any  thing  that  night,  they  hauled  off 
again,  in  order  to  escape  detection.  The  next  day,  about 
noon,  calculating  that  they  were  abreast  of  the  town,  and 
the  wind  and  weather  being,  in  all  respects,  favourable, 


24  XAVAL  HISTORY. 

both  vessels  kept  away,  the  ketch  leading  some  distance,  in 
order  that  the  enemy  might  not  suppose  her  a  consort  of  the 
Siren's,  although  the  latter  was  so  much  disguised,  as  to 
render  it  impossible  to  recognize  her.  The  wind  was  fair, 
but  light,  and  every  thing  looking  favourable,  Mr.  Decatur 
now  seriously  made  his  dispositions  for  the  attack.  Appre- 
hensive that  they  might  have  been  seen,  and  that  the  enemy 
had  possibly  strengthened  the  party  on  board  the  frigate, 
Lieut.  Com.  Stewart  sent  a  boat  and  8  men  from  the 
Siren,  to  the  ketch,  under  the  orders  of  one  of  his  midship- 
men, Mr.  Anderson,  which  reinforcement  increased  the 
numbers  of  the  intended  assailants  to  eighty-two,  all  told. 

The  orders  of  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur  were  clear  and  sim- 
ple. The  spar-deck  was  first  to  be  carried,  and  then  the 
gun-deck,  after  which  the  following  distribution  of  the 
party  was  made,  in  order  to  set  fire  to  the  ship.  Mr.  De- 
catur with  Messrs.  Izard  and  Rowe,  and  15  men,  were  to 
keep  possession  of  the  upper  deck.  Mr.  Lawrence,  with 
Messrs.  Laws  and  McDonough,  and  10  men,  were  to  re- 
pair to  the  birth-deck  and  forward  store-rooms.  Mr.  Bain- 
bridge,  with  Mr.  Davis  and  10  men  were  to  go  into  the 
ward-room  and  steerage;  Mr.  Morris,  with  8  men,  was  to 
go  into  the  cockpit  and  after  store  rooms ;  Mr.  Thorn,  with 
the  gunner,  surgeon  and  13  men,  were  to  look  after  the 
ketch;  to  Mr.  Izard  was  assigned  the  command  of  the 
launch  should  she  be  needed,  and  Mr.  Anderson,  with  the 
Siren's  cutter,  was  to  secure  all  boats  along  side  of  the  ship, 
and  to  prevent  the  people  from  swimming  ashore,  with  di- 
rections, however,  to  board  as  soon  as  the  first  duty  was 
performed. 

Fire  arms  were  to  be  used  only  in  the  last  extremity,  and 
the  first  object  of  every  one  was  to  clear  the  upper-deck  and 
gun-deck  of  the  enemy.  These  arrangements  were  plain 
and  judicious.  The  watch  word  was  "  Philadelphia." 

As  the  ketch  drew  in  with  the  land,  the  ship  became 


NAVAL  HISTORY".  25 

visible.  She  lay  not  quite  a  mile  within  the  entrance, 
riding  to  the  wind,  and  abreast  of  the  town.  Her  fore-mast, 
which  had  been  cut  away  while  she  was  on  the  reef,  had 
not  yet  been  replaced,  her  main  and  mizzen-top-masts 
were  housed,  and  her  lower  yards  were  on  the  gunwales. 
Her  lower  standing  rigging,  however,  was  in  its  place,  and, 
as  was  shortly  afterwards  ascertained,  her  guns  were  load- 
ed and  shotted.  Just  within  her,  lay  two  corsairs,  with  a 
few  gun-boats,  and  a  galley. 

It  was  a  mild  evening  for  the  season,  and  the  sea  and  bay 
were  smooth  as  in  summer;  as  unlike  as  possible  to  the  same 
place  a  few  days  previously,  when  the  two  vessels  had  been 
driven  from  the  enterprise  by  a  tempest.  Perceiving  that 
he  was  likely  to  get  in  too  soon,  when  about  five  miles  from 
the  rocks,  Mr.  Decatur  ordered  buckets  and  other  drags  to 
be  towed  astern,  in  order  to  lessen  the  way  of  the  ketch, 
without  shortening  sail,  as  the  latter  expedient  would  have 
been  seen  from  the  port,  and  must  have  awakened  sus- 
picion. In  the  mean  time  the  wind  gradually  fell,  until  it 
became  so  light  as  to  leave  the  ketch  but  about  two  knot's 
way  on  her,  when  the  drags  were  removed. 

About  10  o'clock  the  Intrepid  reached  the  eastern  en- 
trance of  the  bay,  or  the  passage  between  the  rocks  and 
the  shoal.  The  wind  was  nearly  east,  and,  as  she  steered 
directly  for  the  frigate,  it  was  well  abaft  the  beam.  There 
was  a  young  moon,  and  as  these  bold  adventurers  were 
slowly  advancing  into  a  hostile  port,  all  around  them  was 
tranquil  and  apparently  without  distrust.  For  near  an 
hour  they  were  stealing  slowly  along,  the  air  gradually 
failing,  until  their  motion  became  scarcely  perceptible. 

Most  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  ketch  had  been  or- 
dered to  lie  on  the  deck,  where  they  wrere  concealed  by 
low  bulwarks,  or  weather  boards,  and  by  the  different  ob- 
jects that  belong  to  a  vessel.  As  it  is  the  practice  of  those 


26  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

seas,  to  carry  a  number  of  men  even  in  the  smallest  craft, . 
the  appearance  of  ten  or  twelve  would  excite  no  alarm,  and 
this  number  was  visible.    The  commanding  officer,  himself, 
stood  near  the  pilot,  Mr.  Catalano,*  who  was  to  act  as  in- 
terpreter. 

The  quarter-master  at  the  helm,  was  ordered  to  stand 
directly  for  the  frigate's  bows,  it  being  the  intention  to  lay 
the  ship  aboard  in  that  place,  as  the  mode  of  attack  which 
would  least  expose  the  assailants  to  her  fire. 

The  Intrepid  was  still  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
Philadelphia,  when  the  latter  hailed.  The  pilot  answered 
that  the  ketch  belonged  to  Malta,  and  was  on  a  trading 
voyage;  that  she  had  been  nearly  wrecked,  and  had  lost 
her  anchors  in  the  late  gale,  and  that  her  commander 
wished  to  ride  by  the  frigate  during  the  night.  This  con- 
versation lasted  some  time,  Mr.  Decatur  instructing  the 
pilot  to  tell  the  frigate's  people  with  what  he  was  'laden,  in 
order  to  amuse  them,  and  the  Intrepid  gradually  drew 
nearer,  until  there  was  every  prospect  of  her  running  foul 
of  the  Philadelphia,  in  a  minute  or  two,  and  at  the  very  spot 
contemplated.  But  the  wind  suddenly  shifted,  and  took  the 
ketch  a-back.  The  instant  the  southerly  puff  struck  her,  her 
head  fell  off,  and  she  got  a  stern-board,  the  ship,  at  the 
same  moment,  tending  to  the  new  current  of  air.  The  effect 
of  this  unexpected  change  was  to  bring  the  ketch  directly 
under  the  frigate's  broadside,  at  the  distance  of  about  forty 
yards,  where  she  lay  perfectly  becalmed,  or,  if  any  thing, 
drifting  slowly  astern,  exposed  to  nearly  every  one  of  the 
Philadelphia's  larboard  guns. 

Not  the  smallest  suspicion  appears  to  have  been  yet  ex- 
cited on  board  the  frigate,  though  several  of  her  people 
were  looking  over  her  rails,  and  notwithstanding  the  moon- 


Now  a  sailing  master  in  the  navy. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  27 

light.  So  completely  were  the  Turks  deceived,  that  they 
lowered  a  boat,  and  sent  it  with  a  fast.  Some  of  the  ketch's 
men,  in  the  mean  time,  had  got  into  her  boat,  and  had  run 
a  line  to  the  frigate's  fore  chains.  As  they  returned,  they 
met  the  frigate's  boat,  took  the  fast  it  brought,  which  came 
from  the  after  part  of  the  ship,  and  passed  it  into  their  own 
vessel.  These  fasts  were  put  into  the  hands  of  the  men,  as 
they  lay  on  the  ketch's  deck,  and  they  began  cautiously  to 
breast  the  Intrepid  along  side  of  the  Philadelphia,  without 
rising.  As  soon  as  the  latter  got  near  enough  to  the  ship, 
the  Turks  discovered  her  anchors,  and  they  sternly  ordered 
the  ketch  to  keep  off',  as  she  had  deceived  them;  preparing, 
at  the  same  time,  to  cut  the  fasts.  All  this  passed  in  a  mo- 
ment, when  the  cry  of  "  Amerikanos"  was  heard  in  the  ship. 
The  people  of  the  Intrepid  by  a  strong  pull,  brought  their 
vessel  along  side  of  the  frigate,  where  she  was  secured, 
quick  as  thought.  Up  to  this  moment,  not  a  whisper  had 
betrayed  the  presence  of  the  men  concealed.  The  instruc- 
tions had  been  positive,  to  keep  quiet  until  commanded  to 
show  themselves,  and  no  precipitation,  even  in  that  trying 
moment,  deranged  the  plan. 

Lieut.  Com.  Decatur  was  standing  ready  for  a  spring, 
with  Messrs.  Laws  and  Morris  quite  near  him.  As  soon  as 
close  enough,  he  jumped  at  the  frigate's  chain-plates,  and 
while  clinging  to  the  ship  himself,  he  gave  the  order  to 
board.  The  two  midshipmen  were  at  his  side,  and  all  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Intrepid  arose  and  followed.  The 
three  gentlemen  named  were  in  the  chains  together,  and 
Lieut.  Com.  Decatur  and  Mr.  Morris  sprang  at  the  rail 
above  them,  while  Mr.  Laws  dashed  at  a  port.  To  the  lat- 
ter would  have  belonged  the  honour  of  having  been  first  in 
this  gallant  assault,  but  wearing  a  boarding  belt,  his  pistols 
were  caught  between  the  guri  and  the  side  of  the  port.  Mr. 
Decatur's  foot  slipped  in  springing,  and  Mr.  Charles  Morris 
first  stood  upon  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Philadelphia.  In 

W"   '    '••'''     -. '; . 
^  *  *. 


28  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

an  instant,  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur  and  Mr.  Laws  were  at  his 
side,  while  heads  and  bodies  appeared  coming  over  the  rail, 
and  through  the  ports,  in  all  directions. 

The  surprise  appears  to  have  been  as  perfect,  as  the  as- 
sault was  rapid  and  earnest.  Most  of  the  Turks  on  deck 
crowded  forward,  and  all  ran  over  to  the  starboard-side, 
as  their  enemies  poured  in  on  the  larboard.  A  few  were 
aft,  but  as  soon  as  charged,  they  leaped  into  the  sea.  In- 
deed, the  constant  plunges  into  the  water,  gave  the  assail- 
ants the  assurance  that  their  enemies  were  fast  lessening 
in  numbers  by  flight.  It  took  but  a  minute  or  two  to  clear 
the  spar-deck,  though  there  was  more  of  a  struggle  below. 
Still,  so  admirably  managed  was  the  attack,  and  so  com- 
plete the  surprise,  that  the  resistance  was  but  trifling.  In 
less  than  ten  minutes  Mr.  Decatur  was  on  the  quarter-deck 
again,  in  undisturbed  possession  of  his  prize. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  gallant  officer  now  felt 
bitter  regrets,  that  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  bring  away 
the  ship  he  had  so  nobly  recovered.  Not  only  were  his  or- 
ders on  this  point  peremptory,  however,  but  the  frigate  had 
not  a  sail  bent,  nor  a  yard  crossed,  and  she  wanted  her 
foremast.  It  was  next  to  impossible,  therefore,  to  remove 
her,  and  the  command  was  given  to  pass  up  the  combusti- 
bles from  the  ketch. 

The  duty  of  setting  fire  to  the  prize,  appears  to  have  been 
executed  with  as  much  promptitude  and  order,  as  every 
other  part  of  the  service.  The  officers  distributed  them- 
selves, agreeably  to  the  previous  instructions,  and  the  men 
soon  appeared  with  the  necessary  means.  Each  party 
acted  by  itself,  and  as  it  got  ready.  So  rapid  were  they  all 
in  their  movements,  that  the  men  with  combustibles  had 
scarcely  time  to  get  as  low  as  the  cock-pit  and  after  store- 
rooms, before  the  fires  were  lighted  over  their  heads.  When 
the  officer  entrusted  with  the  duty  last  mentioned,  had  got 
through,  he  found  the  after-hatches  filled  with  smoke,  from 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  29 

the  fire  in  the  ward-room  and  steerage,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  make  his  escape  by  the  forward  ladders. 

The  Americans  were  in  the  ship  from  twenty  to  twenty- 
five  minutes,  and  they  were  literally  driven  out  of  her  by 
ttie  flames.  The  vessel  had  got  to  be  so  dry  in  that  low 
latitude,  that  she  burnt  like  pine;  and  the  combustibles  had 
been  as  judiciously  prepared,  as  they  were  steadily  used. 
The  last  party  up,  were  the  people  who  had  been  in  the 
store-rooms,  and  when  they  reached  the  deck,  they  found 
most  of  their  companions  already  in  the  Intrepid.  Joining 
them,  and  ascertaining  that  all  was  ready,  the  order  was 
given  to  cast  off.  Notwithstanding  the  daring  character  of 
the  enterprise  in  general,  Mr.  Decatur  and  his  party,  now 
ran  the  greatest  risks  they  had  incurred  that  night.  So 
fierce  had  the  conflagration  already  become,  that  the 
flames  began  to  pour  out  of  the  ports,  and  the  head-fast 
having  been  cast  off,  the  ketch  fell  astern,  with  her  jigger 
flapping  against  the  quarter-gallery,  and  her  boom  foul. 
The  fire  showed  itself  in  the  window,  at  this  critical  mo- 
ment ;  and  beneath,  was  all  the  ammunition  of  the  party, 
covered  with  a  tarpaulin.  To  increase  the  risk,  the  stern- 
fast  was  jammed.  By  using  swords,  however,  for  there 
was  not  time  to  look  for  an  axe,  the  hawser  was  cut,  and 
the  Intrepid  was  extricated  from  the  most  imminent  dan- 
ger, by  a  vigorous  shove.  As  she  swung  clear  of  the  fri- 
gate, the  flames  reached  the  rigging,  up  which  they  went 
hissing,  like  a  rocket,  the  tar  having  oozed  from  the  ropes, 
which  had  been  saturated  with  that  inflammable  matter. 
Matches  could  not  have  kindled  with  greater  quickness. 

The  sweeps  were  now  manned.  Up  to  this  moment, 
every  thing  had  been  done  earnestly,  though  without  noise, 
but  as  soon  as  they  felt  that  they  had  got  command 
of  their  ketch  again,  and  by  two  or  three  vigorous  strokes, 
had  sent  her  away  from  the  frigate,  the  people  of  the  Intre- 
pid ceased  rowing,  and  as  one  man,  they  gave  three  cheers 

VOL.  II.— 3 


30  NAVAL  HISTORF. 

for  victory.  This  appeared  to  arouse  the  Turks  from  their 
stupor,  for  the  cry  had  hardly  ended,  when  the  batteries, 
the  two  corsairs,  and  the  galley,  poured  in  their  fire.  The 
men  laid  hold  of  the  sweeps  again,  of  which  the  Intrepid 
had  eight  of  a  side,  and  favoured  by  a  light  air,  they  went 
merrily  down  the  harbour. 

The  spectacle  that  followed,  is  described  as  having  been 
both  beautiful  and  sublime.  The  entire  bay  was  illuminat- 
ed by  the  conflagration,  the  roar  of  cannon  was  constant, 
and  Tripoli  was  in  a  clamour.  The  appearance  of  the  ship 
was,  in  the  highest  degree,  magnificent;  and  to  add  to  the 
effect,  as  her  guns  heated,  they  began  to  go  off.  Owing  to 
the  shift  of  wind,  and  the  position  into  which  she  had  tend- 
ed, she,  in  some  measure,  returned  the  enemy's  fire,  as  one 
of  her  broadsides  was  discharged  in  the  direction  of  the 
town,  and  the  other  towards  Fort  English.  The  most  sin- 
gular effect  of  this  conflagration  was  on  board  the  ship,  for 
the  flames  having  run  up  the  rigging  and  masts,  collected 
under  the  tops,  and  fell  over,  giving  the  whole  the  appear- 
ance of  glowing  columns  and  fiery  capitals. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  the  situation  of  the  ketch 
would  still  have  been  thought  sufficiently  perilous,  but  after 
the  exploit  they  had  just  performed,  her  people,  elated  with 
success,  regarded  all  that  was  now  passing,  as  a  trium- 
phant spectacle.  The  shot  constantly  cast  the  spray  around 
them,  or  were  whistling  over  their  heads,  but  the  only  sen- 
sation they  produced,  was  by  calling  attention  to  the  bril- 
liant jets  d'eau  that  they  occasioned  as  they  bounded  along 
the  water.  But  one  struck  the  Intrepid,  although  she  was 
within  half  .a  mile  of  many  of  the  heaviest  guns  for  some 
time,  and  that  passed  through  her  top-gallant  sail. 

With  sixteen  sweeps,  and  eighty  men  elated  with  suc- 
cess, Mr.  Decatur  was  enabled  to  drive  the  little  Intrepid 
ahead  with  a  velocity  that  rendered  towing  useless.  Near 
the  harbour's  mouth,  he  met  the  Siren's  boats,  sent  to  co- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  31 

ver  his  retreat,  but  their  services  were  scarcely  necessary. 
As  soon  as  the  ketch  was  out  of  danger,  he  got  into  one, 
and  pulled  aboard  the  brig,  to  report  to  Lieut.  Com.  Stew- 
art, the  result  of  his  undertaking. 

The  Siren  had  got  into  the  offing  some  time  after  the 
Intrepid,  agreeably  to  arrangement,  and  anchored  about 
three  miles  from  the  rocks.  Here  she  hoisted  out  the 
launch  and  a  cutter,  manned  and  armed  them,  and  sent 
them  in,  under  Mr.  Caldwell,  her  first  lieutenant.  Soon  after 
the  brig  weighed,  and  the  wind  having  entirely  failed  out- 
side, she  swept  into  eight  fathoms  water,  and  anchored 
again,  to  cover  the  retreat,  should  the  enemy  attempt  to 
board  the  Intrepid,  with  his  gun-boats.  It  will  readily  be 
supposed  that  it  was  an  anxious  moment,  and  as  the  moon 
rose,  all  eyes  were  on  the  frigate.  After  waiting  in  in- 
tense expectation  near  an  hour,  a  rocket  went  up  from 
the  Philadelphia.  It  was  the  signal  of  possession,  and  Mr. 
Stewart  ran  below  to  get  another  for  the  answer.  He 
was  gone  only  a  moment,  but  when  he  returned,  the  fire 
\vas  seen  shining  through  the  frigate's  ports,  and  in  a  few 
more  minutes,  the  flames  were  rushing  up  her  rigging,  as  if  a 
train  had  been  touched.  Then  followed  the  cannonade,  and 
the  dashing  of  sweeps,  with  the  approach  of  the  ketch.  Pre- 
sently a  boat  was  seen  coming  along  side,  and  a  man,  in  a 
sailor's  jacket,  sprang  over  the  gangway  of  the  brig.  It 
was  Decatur,  to  announce  his  victory! 

The  ketch  and  brig  lay  near  each  other,  for  about  an 
hour,  when  a  strong  and  favourable  wind  arose,  and  they 
made  sail  for  Syracuse,  which  port  they  reached  on  the 
19th.  Here  the  party  was  received  with:  salutes  and  con- 
gratulations, by  the  Sicilians,  who  were  also  at  war  with 
Tripoli,  as  well  as  by  their  own  countrymen. 

The  success  of  this  gallant  exploit,  laid  the  foundation 
of  the  name  which  Mr.  Decatur  subsequently  acquired  in 
the  navy.  The  country  applauded  the  feat  generally ;  and 


32  KAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  commanding  officer  was  raised  from  the  station  of  a 
lieutenant  to  that  of  a  captain.  Most  of  the  midshipmen 
engaged,  were  also  promoted.  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur  also 
received  a  sword.* 

The  Philadelphia  was  a  frigate  of  the  class  that  the 
English  termed  a  thirty-eight,  previously  to  the  war  of 
1812.  Her  armament  consisted  of  28  eighteens,  on  her 
gun  deck,  and  of  16  carronades  and  chase  guns,  above;  or 
of  44  guns  in  the  whole.  No  correct  estimate  has  proba- 
bly ever  been  made  of  the  number  of  men  in  her,  when  she 
was  captured.  Twenty  were  reported  to  have  been  killed, 
and  one  boat  loaded  with  Turks  is  said  to  have  escaped; 
many  also  swam  ashore,  or  to  the  nearest  cruisers.  Some, 
no  doubt,  secreted  themselves  below,  of  whom  the  greater 
part  must  have  perished  in  the  ship,  as  the  party  that  set 
fire  to  the  after  store-rooms  had  difficulty  in  escaping  from 
the  flames.  But  one  prisoner  was  made,  a  wounded  Turk, 
who  took  refuge  in  the  ketch.  On  the  part  Of  the  Ameri- 
cans but  a  single  man  was  hurt. 

In  whatever  light  we  regard  this  exploit  it  extorts  our 
admiration  and  praise;  the  boldness  in  the  conception 
of  the  enterprise,  being  even  surpassed  by  the  perfect 
manner  in  which  all  its  parts  were  executed.  Nothing 
appears  to  have  been  wanting,  in  a  military  point  of 
view;  nothing  was  deranged;  nothing  defeated.  The  hour 
was  well  chosen,  and  no  doubt  it  was  a  chief  reason,  why 
the  corsairs,  gun-boats,  and  batteries,  were,  in  the  first 
place,  so  slow  in  commencing  their  fire,  and  so  uncertain 
in  their  aim,  when  they  did  open  on  the  Americans.  In 
appreciating  the  daring  of  the  attempt,  we  have  only  to 

*  Notwithstanding  his  merit,  the  propriety  of  making  Mr.  Decatur  a 
captain  was  much  questioned.  When  the  news  reached  America,  his 
name  was  before  the  senate,  under  nomination,  as  the  youngest  master 
and  commander  of  eight,  but,  on  receiving  the  intelligence  of  his  suc- 
cess, it  was  withdrawn,  and  sent  in  for  a  captain's  commission. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  33 

%• 

consider  what  might  have  been  the  consequences  had  the 
assault  on  the  frigate  been  repulsed.  Directly  under  her 
guns,  with  a  harbour  filled  with  light  cruisers,  gun-boats  and 
galleys,  and  surrounded  by  forts  and  batteries,  the  inevita- 
ble destruction  of  all  in  the  Intrepid  must  have  followed. 
These  were  dangers  that  cool  steadiness  and  entire  self- 
possession,  aided  by  perfect  discipline,  could  alone  avert.  In 
the  service,  the  enterprise  has  ever  been  regarded  as  one  of 
its  most  brilliant  achievements,  and  to  this  day,  it  is  deemed 
a  high  honour  to  have  been  one  of  the  Intrepid's  crew.  The 
effect  on  the  squadron  then  abroad  can  scarcely  be  appre- 
ciated, as  its  seamen  began  to  consider  themselves  invinci- 
ble, if  not  invulnerable,  and  were  ready  for  any  service  in 
which  men  could  be  employed. 


3* 


34  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  III. 


THUS  opened  the  year  1804.  The  great  distance,  however, 
that  lay  between  the  seat  of  war,  and  the  country,  as  well 
as  the  infrequency  of  direct  communications,  prevented  the 
government  at  home,  from  getting  early  information  of 
what  was  passing  in  the  Mediterranean.  As  a  consequence, 
at  the  very  moment  when  Com.  Preble  was  beginning  to 
show  that  energy  for  which  he  was  so  remarkable,  the  de- 
partment was  making  preparations  for  superseding  him  in 
the  command,  not  from  dissatisfaction,  but,  as  was  then  be- 
lieved, from  necessity.  There  were  but  three  captains  in 
the  navy  junior  to  Preble,  and  one  of  these  was  a  captive 
in  Tripoli.  The  loss  of  the  Philadelphia  had  rendered  it  in- 
dispensable to  send  out  another  frigate,  at  least,  and  the 
administration  had  now  begun  to  take  so  serious  a  view  of 
the  state  of  the  relations  of  the  country  with  all  the  Barbary 
powers,  as  to  see  the  importance  of  exhibiting  a  force,  that 
should  look  down  any  further  attempts  on  a  trade,  which,  in 
consequence  of  the  general  war  that  prevailed  in  Europe, 
was  beginning  to  whiten  the  seas  of  the  old  world  with 
American  canvass.  The  Emperor  of  Morocco,  who  was 
said  to  be  a  relative  of  the  Bashaw  of  Tripoli,  was  distrust- 
ed in  particular,  and  many  little  occurrences  had  served  to 
prove  the  interest  that  the  former  felt  in  the  affairs  of  the 
latter. 

As  soon  as  the  president  was  apprised  of  the  loss  of  the 
Philadelphia,  therefore,  orders  had  been  given  to  prepare 


JTAVAL  HISTORY.  35 

the  required  additional  force.  So  little,  however,  had  the 
real  government  of  the  country  attended  to  this  all  im- 
portant branch  of  public  defence,  that  it  was  far  easier  to 
command  the  equipment  of  a  single  frigate,  than  to  get  her 
to  sea,  within  a  reasonable  time.  In  1804,  the  mercantile 
tonnage  of  the  United  States  was  actually  about  1,000,000 
tons,  and  yet  the  country  did  not  possess  a  single  dock,  pub- 
lic or  private,  between  Maine  and  Georgia.  The  unmeaning 
clamour  against  all  improvements  of  this  nature,  which  had 
commenced  with  the  existence  of  the  new  administration, 
was  still  continued,  and,  as  is  too  often  witnessed  in  the  in- 
discriminate and  unprincipled  strife  of  parties,  they  who 
professed  to  be  the  warmest  advocates  of  an  active  and 
growing  marine,  were  the  loudest  in  declaiming  against 
those  very  measures,  without  which  no  navy  can  ever  be 
efficient,  or  even  moderately  useful.  In  the  actual  state  of 
the  public  mind,  the  direct  method  of  procuring  those  indis- 
pensable requisites  of  a  marine,  dock-yards,  was  not  at- 
tempted, but  very  insufficient  substitutes  had  been  obtained 
by  putting  a  liberal  construction  ori  the  law  authorizing  the 
building  of  the  six  seventy-fours,  for  which  purpose,  building 
yards  were  thought  to  be  necessary.  In  this  manner,  as 
many  navy  yards,  as  they  were  called,  for  neither  had  a 
dock,  were  purchased,  and  an  humble  commencement  of 
these  indispensable  establishments  was  made  at  Gosport, 
Washington,  Philadelphia,  Brooklyn,  Charlestown  and  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.  Thus,  in  the  great  interests  connected  with 
a  navy,  as  in  every  thing  else  in  a  country  that  is  so  emi- 
nently practical,  and  in  which  few  have  sufficient  leisure  to 
cultivate  theories,  the  facts  were  still  leading  opinion,  and 
the  gallant  men  who  were  slowly  fighting  themselves  into 
favour,  were  merely  performing  an  office  that  would  seem 
to  be  inseparable  from  the  advancement  of  every  free  peo- 
ple in  civilization. 

The  ships  that  it  was  now  decided  to  send  into  the  Me- 


m 

36  NAVAL  HISTORY". 

diterranean,  were  the  President  44,  Congress  38,  Constella- 
tion 38,  and  Essex  32.     They  were  put  in   commission 
early  in  the  season,  and,  as  soon  as  the  choice  was  made, 
Com.  Preble  was  apprized  of  it,  and  of  the  necessity  that 
existed  of  sending  out  two  officers  who  were  his  seniors  in 
rank.    About  the  same  time,  Mr.  Decatur  was  made  a  cap- 
tain, for  the  destruction  of  the  Philadelphia,  and  the  service 
received  an  important  impulse,  in  the  revival  of  the  rank  of 
masters  and  commanders,  which,  it  will  be  remembered, 
had  been  dropped  altogether,  under  the  reduction  law  of 
1801.      At  the  time   the   Philadelphia  was   retaken    and 
burned,  there  were  six  lieutenants  in  the  Mediterranean 
acting  as  lieutenants-commandant,  Messrs.  Stewart,  Hull, 
Smith,  Somers,  Decatur  and  Dent,  and  of  these,  four  were 
senior  to  the  one  just  promoted.     As  Lieut.  Com.  Stewart 
was  the  second  in  command  in  the  Mediterranean,  as  well 
as  the  oldest  lieutenant  of  the  service,  and  as  he  had  actually 
accompanied  the  expedition  in  person,  aiding  with  his  coun- 
sel, and  ready  to  act  on  an  emergency,  it  was  thought  that 
something  more  ought  to  have  been  done  for  the  gentlemen 
over  whose  heads  Mr.  Decatur  had  been  elevated.     When 
raised  to  be  a  captain,  Mr.  Decatur  was  the  eighth  officer 
of  his  station  in  the  navy,  and  it  would  have  been  more  in 
conformity  with  the  practices  of  old  and  well  established 
marines,  to  have  promoted  all  his  seniors,  as  they  were 
all  known  to  be  qualified,  and  several  had  already  distin- 
guished themselves,  even  in  commands.     But,  it  was  pre- 
mature to  expect  this  systematic  justice,  in  a  service   so 
young,  and  which  might  still  be  said  to  be  struggling  for  its 
existence,  and,  the  class  of  masters  and  commanders,  was 
simply  re-established,  Messrs.  Charles  Stewart,  Isaac  Hull, 
Andrew  Sterrett,  John  Shaw,  Isaac  Chauncey,  John  Smith, 
Richard  Somers,  and  George  Cox,  being  the^gentlemen  who 
were  first  appointed  to  this  rank,  after  it  had  been  renew- 
ed in  the  service.    These  promotions,  which  were   con- 
nected with  the  establishment  of  a  new  rank,  were  dated 


NAVAL  HISTORY.          |  37 

in  May,  1804,  although  all  of  the  gentlemen  concerned,  who 
were  abroad,  continued  to  serve  in  their  old  capacities,  un- 
til quite  near  the  close  of  the  season. 

The  Siren  and  Intrepid  returned  to  Syracuse,  after  the 
successful  attempt  on  the  Philadelphia,  on  the  19th  of  Feb- 
ruary of  this  year.  On  the  2nd  of  March,  Com.  Preble,  who 
had  divided  his  force  so  as  to  keep, some  of  the  small  ves- 
sels off  Tripoli  blockading,  proceeded  to  Malta,  and  on  his 
return,  he  sailed  again,  on  the  21st,  for  the  station  off  the 
enemy's  port.  The  Siren  16,  Lieut.  Com.  Stewart,  and 
Nautilus  12,  Lieut.  Com.  Somers,  were  the  blockading  ves- 
sels at  this  time,  and,  early  one  morning,  while  coming 
from  the  eastward  to  recover  lost  ground,  a  vessel  with  the 
appearance  of  a  brig  of  war  was  seen  lying-to  in  the  offing. 
As  soon  as  he  made  the  Americans,  the  stranger  endeavour- 
ed to  beat  back  into  the  harbour  again,  out  of  which  he  had 
lately  come,  but,  the  Nautilus  being  sent  close  in  to  em- 
ploy the  gun-boats,  should  they  attempt  to  come  out,  the 
Siren  cut  him  off  from  the  port,  and  soon  got  along  side. 
This  vessel  proved  to  be  the  Transfer,  a  privateer  out  of 
Malta,  with  a  British  commission,  and  she  had  an  arma- 
ment of  16  carronades,  and  a  crew  of  80  men.  When  the 
Siren  ran  along  side,  the  Transfer's  people  were  at  quar- 
ters, but  no  resistance  being  attempted,  she  was  captured 
for  a  violation  of  the  blockade.  Subsequent  informa- 
tion induced  Com.  Preble  to  believe  that  she  belonged, 
in  fact,  to  the  bashaw  of  Tripoli,  and  that  the  commis- 
sion under  which  she  sailed  was  obtained  by  means  of  the 
Tripolitan  consul  in  Malta,  who  was  a  native  of  that  island, 
and  for  whose  appearance  on  board,  the  brig  was  actually 
waiting,  when  taken. 

As  the  Transfer  had  been  an  English  gun-brig,  and  was 
equipped  for  war,  Com.  Preble  sent  her  to  Syracuse,  where 
she  was  appraised,  manned,  and  taken  into  the  service  for 
the  time  being.  She  was  called  the  Scourge,  and  the  com- 


38  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

mand  of  her  was  given  to  Lieut.  Com.  Dent,  the  acting  cap- 
tain of  the  Constitution.* 

Remaining  off  Tripoli  a  few  days,  Com.  Preble  was  next 
actively  employed  in  running  from  port  to  port,  in  order  to 
look  into  the  affairs  of  the  different  regencies,  to  communi- 
cate with  the  captives  in  Tripoli,  and  to  make  his  arrange- 
ments for  pursuing  a  warfare  better  suited  to  bringing  the 
bashaw  to  terms.  The  king  of  the  Two  Sicilies  being  at 
war  with  Tripoli,  also,  in  furtherance  of  the  latter  duty,  the 
Constitution  went  to  Naples,  in  order  to  obtain  some  assist- 
ance in  executing  his  projects.  Here  he  got  an  order  for 
two  bomb-vessels  and  six  gun-boats,  with  the  necessary 
equipments,  and  sailed  for  Messina,  where  the  different  craft 
lay.  From  this  time  until  the  middle  of  July,  Com.  Preble 
was  as  actively  engaged  as  ever,  in  providing  for  the  wants 
of  the  captives,  in  settling  a  serious  difficulty  with  Tunis, 
and  in  preparing  for  an  attack  on  Tripoli ;  and  we  shall 
quit  him,  for  a  mom'ent,  to  return  to  the  movements  before 
that  place. 

In  April,  the  Siren, Lieut.  Com.  Stewart ;  Argus,  Lieut.  Com. 
Hull;  Enterprise,  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur;  Vixen,  Lieut.  Com. 
Smith ;  and  Scourge,  Lieut.  Com.  Dent,  composed  the  block- 
ading force,  when  a  felucca  was  seen  stealing  along  shore, 
coming  from  the  westward,  with  a  view  to  enter  the  har- 
bour in  a  fog.  A  general  chase  ensued,  and  the  felucca 
took  refuge  behind  a  reef  of  rocks,  about  tea  miles  to  the 
westward  of  Tripoli,  where  she  was  run  upon  a  beach  of 
sand.  The  Siren  now  made  a  signal  for  the  boats  to  go  in, 
in  order  to  destroy  the  enemy.  Mr.  Caldwell,  the  first  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Siren,  being  nearest  in,  went  ahead  with  the 

*  Mr.  Jefferson  is  said  to  have  carried  his  hostility  to  blockades  so  far, 
as  to  refuse  to  suffer  the  Transfer  to  be  regularly  condemned,  although, 
when  she  was  sent  to  America,  she  was  sold,  and  the  money  was  put  in 
the  treasury.  In  the  war  of  1812,  or  eight  or  ten  years  after  her  capture, 
the  brig  was  legally  condemned,  and  the  prize-money  was  paid  in  1815! 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  39 

launch  and  cutter  of  that  brig,  while  the  others  followed  as 
the  vessels  came  up.  As  he  approached  the  shore,  the  boat 
of  Mr.  Caldwell  got  on  a  sunken  rock,  and  the  enemy,  who 
had  begun  to  collect  in  force,  particularly  in  cavalry,  open- 
ed a  sharp  fire  of  musketry.  Several  of  the  Americans 
were  killed  and  wounded,  and  perceiving  that  the  enemy 
were  both  too  strong  and  too  well  posted  to  be  attacked  by 
so  feeble  a  force,  Mr.  Caldwell  returned,  directing  the  dif- 
ferent boats,  as  he  met  them,  to  retire  also. 

The  Argus  and  schooners  now  obtained  positions  where 
they  could  throw  their  shot  into  the  felucca,  which  was  soon 
rendered  unseaworthy.  While  this  was  doing,  the  Siren  ran 
down,  opened  a  ravine  in  which  the  Turks  were  posted, 
and  dislodged  them  by  a  smart  discharge  of  grape.  After- 
xvards,  a  broadside  or  two  were  thrown  in  among  a  strong 
body  of  cavalry,  which  had  the  effect  of  rendering  them 
cautious  in  their  operations  on  the  coast.  This  little  affair 
illustrates  the  nature  of  the  ordinary  warfare  that  was  then 
carried  on,  the  Tripolitans  sending  out  bodies  of  soldiers  to 
cover  the  retreat  of  any  vessel  that  was  expected  wfth  sup- 
plies. On  this  occasion,  the  felucca  was  said  to  be  loaded 
with  salt,  an  article  that  then  bore  an  enormous  price  in 
Tripoli. 

It  was  July  the  21st,  1804,  when  Com.  Preble  was  able 
to  sail  from  Malta,  with  all  the  force  he  had  collected,  to 
join  the  vessels  cruising  off  Tripoli.  The  blockade  had  been 
kept  up  with  vigour  for  some  months,  and  the  commodore 
felt  that  the  season  had  now  arrived  for  more  active  opera- 
tions. He  had  with  him  the  Constitution,  Enterprise,  Nau- 
tilus, the  two  bomb-vessels  and  the  six  gun-boats.  The 
bomb-vessels  were  only  of  thirty  tons  measurement,  and 
carried  a  thirteen-inch  mortar  each.  In  scarcely  any  re- 
spect were  they  suited  for  the  duty  that  was  expected  of 
them.  The  gun-boats  were  little  better,  being  shallow, 
unseaworthy  craft,  of  about  twenty-five  tons  burthen, 


40  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

in  which  long  iron  twenty-fours  had  been  mounted.  Each 
boat  had  one  gun,  and  35  men;  the  latter,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  Neapolitans,  being  taken  from  the  different 
vessels  of  the  squadron.  The  Tripolitan  gun-boats,  which 
have  already  been  described,  were  altogether  superior,  and 
the  duty  should  have  been  exactly  reversed,  in  order  to  suit 
the  qualities  of  the  respective  craft;  the  boats  of  Tripoli 
having  been  built  to  go  on  the  coast,  while  those  possessed 
by  the  Americans  were  intended  solely  for  harbour  de- 
fence. In  addition  to  their  other  bad  qualities,  these  Nea- 
politan boats  were  found  neither  to  sail  nor  to  row  even 
tolerably  well.  It  was  necessary  to  tow  them,  by  larger 
vessels,  the  moment  they  got  into  rough  water;  and  when 
it  blew  heavily,  there  was  always  danger  of  towing  them 
under.  In  addition  to  this  force,  Com.  Preble  had  obtained 
six  long  twenty-six-pounders  for  the  upper-deck  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  were  mounted  in  the  waist. 

When  the  American  commander  assembled  his  whole 
force  before  Tripoli,  on  the  25th  of  July,  1804,  it  consisted 
of  the  Constitution  44,  Com.  Preble;  Siren  16,  Lieut.  Com. 
Stewart;  Argus  16,  Lieut.  Com.  Hull;  Scourge  14,  Lieut. 
Com.  Dent;  Vixen  12,  Lieut.  Com.'  Smith;  Nautilus  12, 
Lieut.  Com.  Somers;  Enterprise  12,  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur; 
the  two  bomb-vessels,  and  six  gun-boats.  In  some  respects 
this  was  a  well  appointed  force  for  the  duty  required,  while 
in  others  it  was  lamentably  deficient.  Another  heavy  ship, 
in  particular,  was  wanted,  and  the  means  for  bombarding 
had  all  the  defects  that  may  be  anticipated.-  The  two 
heaviest  brigs  had  armaments  of  twenty-four-pound  carro- 
nades ;  the  other  brig,  and  two  of  the  schooners,  armaments 
of  eighteen-pound  carronades;  while  the  Enterprise  retained 
her  original  equipment  of  long  sixes,  in  consequence  of  her 
ports  being  unsuited  to  the  new  guns.  As  the  Constitution 
had  a  gun-deck  battery  of  30  long  twenty-fours,  with  6  long 
twenty-sixes,  and  some  lighter  long  guns  above,  it  follows 


NAVAL  HISTORJT.  41 

that  the  Americans  could  bring  22  twenty-fours  and  6 
twenty-sixes  to  bear  on  the  stone  walls  of  the  town,  in  ad- 
dition to  a  few  light  chase-guns  in  the  small  vessels,  and 
the  twelve-pounders  of  the  frigate's  quarter-deck  and  fore- 
castle. On  the  whole,  there  appears  to  have  been  in  the 
squadron,  28  heavy  long  guns,  with  about  20  lighter,  that 
might  be  brought  to  play  on  the  batteries  simultaneously. 
Opposed  to  these  means  of  offence,  the  bashaw  had  115 
guns  in  battery,  most  of  them  quite  heavy,  and  19  gun- 
boats that,  of  themselves,  so  far  as  metal  was  concerned, 
were  nearly  equal  to  the  frigate.  Moored  in  the  harbour 
were  also  two  large  galleys,  two  schooners,  and  a  brig,  all 
of  which  were  armed  and  strongly  manned.  The  Ameri- 
can squadron  was  manned  by  1060  persons,  all  told,  while 
the  bashaw  had  assembled  a  force  that  has  been  estimated 
as  high  as  25,000,  Arabs  and  Turks  included.  The  only  ad- 
vantages possessed  by  the  assailants,  in  the  warfare  that  is 
so  soon  to  follow,  were  those  which  are  dependent  on  spirit, 
discipline  and  system. 

The  vessels  could  not  anchor  until  the  28th,  when  they 
ran  in,  with  the  wind  at  E.  S.  E.,  and  came-to,  by  signal, 
about  a  league  from  the  town.  This  was  hardly  done,  how- 
ever, before  the  wind  came  suddenly  round  to  N.  N.  W., 
thence  to  N.  N.  E.,  and  it  began  to  blow  strong,  with  a 
heavy  sea  setting  directly  oh  shore.  At  6  P.  M.,  a  signal 
was  made  for  the  vessels  to  weigh,  and  to  gain  an  offing. 
Fortunately,  the  wind  continued  to  haul  to  the  eastward,  or 
there  would  have  been  great  danger  of  towing  the  gun-boats 
under,  while  carrying  sail  to  claw  off  the  land.  The  gale 
continued  to  increase  until  the  31st,  when  it  blew  tremen- 
dously. The  courses  of  the  Constitution  were  blown  away, 
though  reefed,  and  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  save 
the  bomb-vessels  and  gun-boats,  had  not  the  wind  hauled  so 
far  to  the  southward  as  to  give  them  the  advantage  of  a 

VOL.  II.— 4 


42  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

weather  shore,  and  of  comparatively  smooth  water.    For- 
tunately, the  gale  ceased  the  next  day. 

On  the  3d  of  August,  1804,  the  squadron  ran  in  again, 
and  got  within  a  league  of  the  town,  with  a  pleasant  breeze 
at  the  eastward.  The  enemy's  gun-boats  and  galleys  had 
come  outside  of  the  rocks,  and  were  lying  there  in  two  di- 
visions; one  near  the  eastern,  and  the  other  near  the  west- 
ern entrance,  or  about  half  a  mile  apart.  At  the  same  time, 
it  was  seen  that  all  the  batteries  were  manned,  as  if  an  at- 
tack was  not  only  expected,  but  invited. 

At  half-past  12,  the  Constitution  wore  with  her  head  off 
shore,  and  showed  a  signal  for  all  vessels  to  come  within 
hail.  As  he  came  up,  each  commander  was  ordered  to 
prepare  to  attack  the  shipping  and  batteries.  The  bomb- 
vessels  and  gun-boats  were  immediately  manned,  and  such 
was  the  high  state  of  discipline  in  the  squadron,  that  in  one 
hour,  every  thing  was  ready  for  the  contemplated  service. 
On  this  occasion,  Com.  Preble  made  the  following  dis- 
tribution of  that  part  of  his  force,  which  was  manned  from 
the  other  vessels  of  his  squadron. 

One  bombard  was  commanded  by  Lieut.  Com.  Dent,  of 
the  Scourge. 

The  other  bombard  by  Mr.  Robinson,  first  lieutenant  of 
the  Constitution. 

First  division  of  gun-boats. 
No.  1.  Lieut.  Com.  Somers,  of  the  Nautilus. 
"     2.  Lieut.  James  Decatur,  of  the  Nautilus. 
"    3.  Lieut.  Blake,  of  the  Argus. 

Second  division  of  gun-boats. 
"     4.  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur,  of  the  Enterprise. 
"     5.  Lieut.  Bainbridge,  of  the  Enterprise. 
"     6.  Lieut.  Trippe,  of  the  Vixen. 

At  half  past  one,  the  Constitution  wore  again,  and  stood 
towards  the  town.  At  two,  the  gun-boats  were  cast  off, 
and  formed  in  advance,  covered  by  the  brigs  and  schoon- 
ers, and  half  an  hour  later,  the  signal  was  shown  to  engage. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  43 

The  attack  was  commenced  by  the  two  bombards,  which 
began  to  throw  shells  into  the  town.  It  was  followed  by 
the  batteries,  which  were  instantly  in  a  blaze,  and  then  the 
shipping  on  both  sides  opened  their  fire,  within  reach  of  grape. 

The  eastern,  or  most  weatherly  division  of  the  enemy's 
gun-boats,  nine  in  number,  as  being  least  supported,  was 
the  aim  of  the  American  gun-boats.  But  the  bad  qualities 
of  the  latter  craft  were  quickly  apparent,  for,  as  soon  as  Mr. 
Decatur  steered  towards  the  enemy,  with  an  intention  to 
come  to  close  quarters,  the  division  of  Mr.  Somers,  which 
was  a  little  to  leeward,  found  it  difficult  to  sustain  him 
Every  effort  was  made  by  the  latter  officer,  to  get  far 
enough  to  windward  to  join  in  the  attack,  but  finding  it  im- 
practicable, he  bore  up,  and  ran  down  alone  on  five  of  the 
enemy  to  leeward,  and  engaged  them  all  within  pistol  shot, 
throwing  showers  of  grape,  cannister,  and  musket  balls 
among  them.  In  order  to  do  this,  as  soon  as  near  enough, 
the  sweeps  were  got  out,  and  the  boat  was  backed  astern, 
to  prevent  her  from  drifting  in  among  the  enemy.  No.  3 
was  closing  fast,  but  a  signal  of  recall*  being  shown  from 
the  Constitution,  she  hauled  out  of  the  line  to  obey,  and 
losing  ground,  she  kept  more  aloof,  firing  at  the  boats  and 
shipping  in  the  harbour,  while  No.  2,  Mr.  James  Decatur, 
was  enabled  to  join  the  division  to  windward.  No.  5,  Mr. 
Bainbridge,  lost  her  latine-yard,  while  still  in  tow  of  the  Si- 
ren, but,  though  unable  to  close,  she  continued  advancing, 
keeping  up  a  heavy  fire,  and  finally  touched  on  the  rocks. 

By  these  changes,  Lieut.  Com.  Decaturf  had  three  boats 
that  dashed  forward  with  him,  though  one  belonged  to  the 
division  of  Mr.  Somers,  viz.  No.  4,  No.  6,  and  No.  2.  The 

*  This  signal  was  bent  on  by  mistake,  and  was  shown  only  for  a  mo- 
ment, but  the  fact  that  it  was  shown,  was  established  before  a  Court  of 
Inquiry,  which  exonerated  Mr.  Blake  from  censure. 

f  He  was  Capt.  Decatur  at  the  time,  but  the  fact  was  not  yet  known  in 
the  squadron. 


44  NAVAL  BISTORT. 

officers  in  command  of  these  three  boats,  went  steadily  on, 
without  hearing  a  shot,  until  within  the  smoke  of  the  enemy. 
Here  they  delivered  their  fire,  throwing  in  a  terrible  dis- 
charge of  grape  and  musket  balls,  and  the  order  was  given 
to  board.  Up  to  this  moment,  the  odds  had  been  as  three 
to  one  against  the  assailants,  and  it  was  now,  if  possible,  in- 
creased. The  brigs  and  schooners  could  no  longer  assist. 
The  Turkish  boats  were  not  only  the  heaviest  and  the  best 
in  every  sense,  but  they  were  much  the  strongest  manned. 
The  combat  now  assumed  a  character  of  chivalrous  prow- 
ess and  of  desperate  personal  efforts,  that  belongs  to  the 
middle  ages,  rather  than  to  struggles  of  our  own  times. 
Its  details,  indeed,  savour  more  of  the  glow  of  romance, 
than  of  the  sober  seventy  that  we  are  accustomed  to  asso- 
ciate with  reality. 

Lieut.  Com.  Decatur-took  the  lead.  He  had  no  sooner 
discharged  his  shower  of  musket  balls,  than  No.  4  was  laid 
along  side  the  opposing  boat  of  the  enemy,  and  he  went 
into  her,  followed  by  Lieut.  Thorn,  Mr.  M'Donough,  and 
all  the  Americans  of  his  crew.  The  Tripolitan  boat  was 
divided  nearly  in  two  parts,  by  a  long  open  hatchway,  and 
as  the  people  of  No.  4  came  in  on  one  side,  the  Turks  re- 
treated to  the  other,  making  a  sort  of  ditch  of  the  open 
space.  This  caused  an  instant  of  delay,  and,  perhaps,  for- 
tunately, for  it  permitted  the  assailants  to  act  together.  As 
soon  as  ready,  Mr.  Decatur  charged  round  each  end  of  the 
hatchway,  and  after  a  short  struggle,  a  portion  of  the 
Turks  were  piked  and  bayonnetted,  while  the  rest  submit- 
ted, or  leaped  into  the  water.* 

No  sooner  had  Mr.  Decatur  got  possession  of  the  boat 
first  assailed,  than  he  took  her  in  tow,  and  bore  down  on 

*  It  is  probable  that  the  crew  of  this  boat  was  in  a  measure  staggered 
by  the  close  fire  of  the  gun,  as  No.  4  approached,  her  captain  having  re- 
ceived no  fewer  than  fourteen  musket  balls  in  his  body,  by  that  one  dis 
charge. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  45 


the  one  next  to  leeward.  Running  the  enemy  aboard,  as 
before,  he  went  into  him,  with  most  of  his  officers  and 
men.  The  captain  of  the  Tripolitan  vessel  was  a  large, 
powerful  man,  and  Mr.  Deca.tur  personally  charged  him 
with  a  pike.  The  weapon,  however,  was  seized  by  the 
Turk,  wrested  from  the  hands  of  the  assailant,  and  turned 
against  its  owner.  The  latter  parried  a  thrust,  and  made  a 
blow  with  his  sword  at  the  pike,  with  a  view  to  cut  off  its 
head.  The  sword  hit  the  iron,  and  broke  at  the  hilt,  and  at 
the  next  instant  the  Turk  made  another  thrust.  Nothing 
was  left  to  the  gallant  Decatur,  but  his  arm,  with  which  he 
so  far  averted  the  blow,  as  to  receive  the  pike  only  through 
the  flesh  of  one  breast.  Pushing  the  iron  from  the  wound, 
flesh  and  all,  he  sprang  within  the  weapon,  and  grappled 
his  antagonist.  The  pike  fell  between  the  two,  and  a  short 
trial  of  strength  succeeded,  in  which  the  Turk  prevailed. 
As  the  combatants  fell,  however,  Mr.  Decatur  so  far  re- 
leased himself  as  to  lie  side  by  side,  with  his  foe,  on  the 
deck.  The  Tripolitan  now  endeavoured  to  reach  his  pon- 
iard, while  his  hand  was  firmly  held  by  that  of  his  enemy. 
At  this  critical  instant,  when  life  or  death  depended  on  a  mo- 
ment well  employed,  or  a  moment  lost,  Mr.  Decatur  drew  a 
small  pistol  from  the  pocket  of  his  vest,  passed  the  arm  that 
was  free  round  the  body  of  the  Turk,  pointed  the  muzzle  in, 
and  fired.  The  ball  passed  entirely  through  the  body  of  the 
musselman,  and  lodged  in  the  clothes  of  his  foe.  At  the 
same  instant,  Mr.  Decatur  felt  the  grasp  that  had  almost 
smothered  him  relax,  and  he  was  liberated.  He  sprang  up, 
and  the  Tripolitan  lay  dead  at  his  feet. 

In  such  a  melee,  it  .cannot  be  supposed  that  the  struggle 
of  the  two  leaders  would  go  unnoticed.  An  enemy  raised 
his  sabre  to  cleave  the  skull  of  Mr.  Decatur,  while  he  was 
occupied  by  his  enemy,  and  a  young  man  of  the  Enterprise's 
crew  interposed  an  arm  to  save  him.  The  blow  was  inter- 
cepted, but  the  limb  was  severed  to  a  bit  of  skin.  A  fresh 

4* 


46  WAVAL  HISTORY. 

rush  was  now  made  upon  the  enemy,  who  was  overcome 
without  much  further  resistance. 

An  idea  of  the  desperate  nature  of  the  fighting  that  dis- 
tinguished this  remarkable  assault,  may  be  gained  from  the 
amount  of  the  loss.  The  two  boats  captured  by  Lieut. 
Com.  Decatur,  had  about  eighty  men  in  them,  of  whom  fif- 
ty-two are  known  to  have  been  killed  and. wounded;  most 
of  the  latter  very  badly.  As  only  eight  prisoners  were 
made  who  were  not  wounded,  and  many  jumped  overboard, 
and  swam  to  the  rocks,  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  Turks 
suffered  still  more  severely.  .Lieut.  Com.  Decatur  himself 
was  wounded,  and  securing  his  second  prize,  he  hauled  off 
to  rejoin  the  squadron ;  all  the  rest  of  the  enemy's  division 
that  were  not  taken,  having,  by  this  time,  cut  and  run  into 
the  harbour,  passing  through  the  openings  between  the  rocks. 

While  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur  was  thus  nobly  employed  to 
windward,  his  brother,  Mr.  James  Decatur,  the  first  lieute- 
nant of  the  Nautilus,  was  emulating  his  example  in  No.  2. 
Reserving  his  fire,  like  No.  4,  this  young  officer  dashed  into 
the  smoke,  and  was  on  the  point  of  boarding,  when  he  receiv- 
ed a  musket  ball  in  his  forehead.*  The  boats  met  and  re- 
bounded; and  in  the  confusion  of  the  death  of  the  com- 
manding officer  of  No.  2,  the  Turk  cut,  and  was  enabled  to 
escape,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  Americans.  It  was 
said,  at  the  time,  that  the  enemy  had  struck  before  Mr.  De- 
catur fell,  though  the  fact  must  remain  in  doubt.  It  is, 
however,  believed  that  he  sustained  a  very  severe  loss. 

In  the  mean  time,  Mr.  Trippe,  in  No.  6,  the  last  of  the 
three  boats  that  was  able  to  reach  the  weather  division, 
was  not  idle.  Reserving  his  fire,  like  the  others,  he  deliv- 
ered it  with  deadly  effect,  when  closing,  and  went  aboard 
of  his  enemy  in  the  smoke.  In  this  instance,  the  boats  also 

*  The  ball,  or  balls,  by  which  Mr.  Decatur  was  killed,  were  said  to 
have  been  connected  by  a  strong  wire.  The  wire  struck  him  on  the  fore- 
head, and  bending,  the  two  balls  entered  the  temples,  one  on  each  side. 


1C  AVAL  HISTORY.  47 

separated  by  the  shock  of  the  collision,  leaving  Mr.  Trippe, 
with  Mr.  J.  D.  Henley,  and  nine  men  only,  on  board  the 
Tripolitan.  Here,  too,  the  commanders  singled  each  other 
out,  and  a  severe  personal  combat  occurred,  while  the 
work  of  death  was  going  on  around  them.  The  Turk  was 
young,  and  of  a  large  athletic  form,  and  he  soon  compelled 
his  slighter  but  more  active  foe  to  fight  with  caution.  Ad- 
vancing on  Mr.  Trippe,  he  would  strike  a  blow,  and  receive 
a  thrust  in  return.  In  this  manner,  he  gave  the  American 
commander  no  less  than  eight  sabre  wounds  in  the  head, 
and  two  in  the  breast ;  when  making  a  sudden  rush,  he 
struck  a  ninth  blow  on  the  head,  which  brought  Mr. 
Trippe  upon  a  knee.  Rallying  all  his  forces  in  a  desperate 
effort,  the  latter,  who  still  retained  the  short  pike  with 
which  he  fought,  made  a  thrust  that  passed  the  weapon 
through  his  gigantic  adversary,  and  tumbled  him  on  his 
back.  As  soon  as  the  Tripolitan  officer  fell,  the  remain- 
der of  his  people  submitted. 

The  boat  taken  by  Mr.  Trippe,  was  one  of  the  largest 
belonging  to  the  bashaw.  The  number  of  her  men  is  not 
positively  known,  but  living  and  dead,  thirty-six  were  found 
in  her,  of  whom  twenty-one  were  either  killed  or  wounded. 
When  it  is  remembered  that  but  eleven  Americans  board- 
ed her,  the  achievement  must  pass  for  one  of  the  most  gal- 
lant on  record.* 

All  this  time  the  cannonade  and  bombardment  continued 
without  ceasing.  Lieut.  Com.  Somers,  in  No.  1,  sustained 

*  While  Mr.  Trippe  was  so  hard  pressed  by  his  antagonist,  a  Turk 
aimed  a  blow  at  him,  from  behind,  but  just  before  the  latter  struck,  Ser- 
j  eant  Meredith,  of  the  marines,  passed  a  bayonet  through  his  body.  While 
the  prizes  were  hauling  off,  no  one  had  thought,  in  the  confusion  of  such 
a  scene,  of  lowering  the  flag  of  the  Tripolitan  boat,  and  she  was  seen  ad- 
vancing with  the  enemy's  ensign  set.  The  Vixen  gave  her  a  broadside, 
which  brought  down  colours,  mast,  latine-yard,  and  all.  Fortunately,  no 
one  was  hurti 


48  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

by  the  brigs  and  schooners,  had  forced  the  remaining  boats 
to  retreat,  and  this  resolute  officer  pressed  them  so  hard,  as 
to  be  compelled  to  ware  within  a  hundred  yards  of  a  batte- 
ry of  twelve  guns,  quite  near  the  mole.  Her  destruction 
seemed  inevitable,  as  the  boat  came  slowly  round,  when  a 
shell  fell  into  the  battery,  most  opportunely  blew  up  the 
platform,  and  drove  the  enemy  out,  to  a  man.  Before  the 
guns  could  be  used  again,  the  boat  had  got  in  tow  of  one 
of  the  small  vessels. 

There  was  a  division  of  five  boats  and  two  galleys  of 
the  enemy,  that  had  been  held  in  reserve  within  the  rocks, 
and  these  rallied  their  retreating  countrymen,  and  made 
two  efforts  to  come  out  and  intercept  the  Americans  and 
their  prizes,  but  they  were  kept  in  check  by  the  fire  of  the 
frigate  and  small  vessels.  The  Constitution  maintained  a 
very  heavy  fire,  and  silenced  several  of  the  batteries, 
though  they  re-opened  as  soon  as  she  had  passed.  The 
bombards  were  covered  with  the  spray  of  shot,  but  con- 
tinued to  throw  shells  to  the  last. 

At  half  past  four,  the  wind  coming  round  to  the  north- 
ward, a  signal  was  made  for  the  gun-boats  and  bomb-ves- 
sels to  rejoin  the  small  vessels,  and  another  to  take  them 
and  the  prizes  in  tow.  The  last  order  was  handsomely  ex- 
ecuted by  the  brigs  and  schooners,  under  cover  of  a  blaze 
of  fire  from  the  frigate.  A  quarter  of  an  hour  later,  the 
Constitution  herself  hauled  off,  and  ran  out  of  gun  shot. 

Thus  terminated  the  first  serious  attack  that  was  made 
on  the  town  and  batteries  of  Tripoli.  Its  effect  on  the 
enemy,  was  of  the  most  salutary  kind ;  the  manner  in  which 
their  gun-boats  had  been  taken,  by  boarding,  having  made  a 
lasting  and  deep  impression.  The  superiority  of  the  Chris- 
tians in  gunnery,  was  generally  admitted  before,  but  here 
was  an  instance  in  which  the  Turks  had  been  overcome,  by 
inferior  numbers,  hand  to  hand,  a  species  of  conflict  in 
which  they  had  been  thought  particularly  to  excel.  Per- 


,       NAVAL  HISTORY.  49 

haps  no  instance  of  more  desperate  fighting  of  the  sort, 
without  defensive  armour,  is  to  be  found  in  the  pages  of 
history.  Three  gun-boats  were  sunk  in  the  harbour,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  three  that  were  taken,  and  the  loss  of  the  Tri- 
politans  by  shot,  must  have  been  very  heavy.  About  fifty 
shells  were  thrown  into  the  town,  but  little  damage  appears 
to  have  been  done  in  this  way,  very  few  of  the  bombs,  on 
account  of  the  imperfect  materials  that  had  been  furnish- 
ed, exploding.  The  batteries  were  a  good  deal  damaged, 
but  the  town  suffered  no  essential  injury. 

On  the  part  of  the  Americans,  only  14  were  killed  and 
wounded  in  the  affair,  and  all  of  these,  with  the  exception 
of  one  man,  belonged  to  the  gun-boats.  The  Constitution, 
though  under  fire  two  hours,  escaped  much  better  than 
could  have  been  expected.  She  received  one  heavy  shot 
through  her  main-mast,  had  a  quarter-deck  gun  injured,* 
and  was  a  good  deal  cut  up  aloft.  The  enemy  had  calcu- 
lated his  range  for  a  more  distant  cannonade,  and  generally 
overshot  the  ships.  The  Constitution  had  her  main-royal- 
yard  shot  away,  by  this  mistake. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  battle  of  the  3d  of  August,  the  of- 
ficers who  had  opportunities  of  particularly  distinguishing 
themselves,  were  Lieuts.  Com.  Decatur  and  Somers;  Lieuts. 
Trippe,  Decatur,  Bainbridge,  and  Thorn,  and  Messrs.  M'Do- 
nough,  Henley,  Ridgely,  and  Miller.  But  the  whole  squad- 
ron behaved  well;  and  the  Constitution  was  handled,  under 
the  fire  of  the  batteries,  with  the  steadiness  of  a  ship  work- 
ing into  a  roadsted. 

*  A  shot  came  in  aft,  hit  the  gun,  and  broke  in  several  pieces.  Com. 
Preble  was  directly  in  its  range,  but  he  escaped  by  the  shot's  breaking1. 
One  of  the  fragments  took  off  the  tip  of  a  marine's  elbow,  quite  near  him, 


50  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  vessels  hauled  off,  and  anchored  about  two  leagues 
from  Tripoli,  to  repair  their  damages.  On  the  morning  of 
the  5th,  the  Argus  brought-to  a  small  French  privateer  that 
had  just  got  out  of  the  harbour,  and  Com.  Preble  induced 
her  commander  to  return  and  carry  in  all  the  badly  wound- 
ed among  his  prisoners.  From  the  captain  of  this  vessel,  he 
learned  that  the  enemy  had  suffered  even  more  than  had 
been  expected  in  the  attack  of  the  3d,  particularly  in  and 
about  the  port.  On  the  7th,  the  privateer  came  out,  bring- 
ing a  letter  from  the  French  consul,  stating  that  the  bashaw 
was  much  more  disposed  to  treat  than  previously  to  the  late 
affair,  and  advising  the  commodore  to  send  in  a  flag  of  truce, 
with  a  view  to  negotiate.  As  the  castle  made  no  signal  to 
support  this  proposition,  it  was  not  regarded. 

Between  the  3d  and  the  7th,  the  squadron  was  occupied 
in  altering  the  rig  of  the  three  captured  gun-boats,  and  in 
putting  them  in  a  condition  for  service.  As  soon  as  the 
latter  were  equipped,  they  were  numbered  7,  8  and  9,  and 
the  command  of  them  was  given  to  Lieuts.  Crane,  Caldwell, 
and  Thorn.  At  9  A.  M.,  .on  the  7th,  the  light  vessels 
weighed,  and  the  bombards  proceeded  to  take  a  position  in 
a  small  bay  to  the  westward  of  the  town,  where  they  were 
not  much  exposed  to  shot.  At  half  past  2,  the  bombards, 
having  gained  their  anchorage,  commenced  throwing  shells, 
and  the  gun-boats  opened  a  heavy  fire  on  the  batteries.  The 
effect  on  the  latter  was  soon  apparent,  and  many  of  their 
guns  were  rendered  useless.  In  the  height  of  the  cannonade, 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  51 

a  strange  vessel  appeared  in  the  offing,  and  the  Argus  was 
sent  in  chase.  The  enemy  now  began  to  get  his  galleys 
and  gun-boats  in  motion,  and  once  or  twice  they  advanced 
towards  the  opening  between  the  rocks,  and  commenced  a 
fire ;  but  the  Constitution,  Nautilus,  and  Enterprise,  being 
stationed  to  windward  to  cut  them  off,  and  the  Siren  and 
Vixen  lying  near  the  American  gun-vessels  to  cover  the 
latter,  the  enemy,  after  the  lesson  received  on  the  3d,  were 
afraid  to  venture. 

At  half  past  3,  or  after  the  action  had  lasted  about  an 
hour,  a  hot  shot  passed  through  the  magazine  of  No.  8, 
Lieut.  Caldwell,  the  boat  taken  by  Mr.  Trippe  in  the  affair 
of  the  3d,  and  she  immediately  blew  up.  When  the  smoke 
cleared  away,  all  the  after  part  of  the  boat  was  under  water, 
while  Mr.  Robert  T.  Spence,  of  the  Siren,  and  eleven  men, 
were  forward,  loading  the  long  twenty-six-pounder  that 
formed  her  armament.  This  gun  was  loaded,  and  fired, 
and  its  gallant  crew  gave  three  cheers,  as  their  vessel 
sunk  beneath  them.  Mr.  Spence,  who  could  not  swim, 
saved  himself  on  an  oar,  while  the  rest  of  the  people  got  on 
board  the  different  boats,  where  they  continued  to  fight  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  the  action. 

No.  8,  when  she  blew  up,  had  a  crew  of  28  persons  in  all, 
of  whom  10  were  killed  and  6  wounded.  Among  the  for- 
mer was  Mr.  Caldwell,  her  commander,  the  first  lieutenant 
of  the  Siren,  and  Mr.  Dorsey,  a  midshipman  of  the  same 
vessel.  These  two  officers  were  greatly  regretted,  as  both 
bade  fair  to  be  ornaments  to  their  profession.* 

At  half  past  5,  or  after  the  cannonade  had  lasted  nearly 

*  Mr.  Edmund  P.  Kennedy,  one  of  the  gunner's  crew  belonging1  to 
the  Siren,  was  the  captain  of  the  gun,  on  board  No.  8,  when  she  blew  up. 
Mr.  Kennedy  was  a  young  gentleman  of  Maryland,  who  had  quitted  school 
in  quest  of  adventure,  and,  having  been  impressed  into  the  British  navy, 
on  obtaining  his  discharge  in  the  Mediterranean,  he  entered  under  the 
flag-  of  his  country.  In  consequence  of  his  good  conduct  on  this  occasion, 
and  from  a  desire  to  place  him  in  a  station  better  suited  to  his  pretensions, 
Com.  Preble  made  Mr.  Kennedy  an  acting  midshipman.  The  appointment 

ill*. 


52  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

three  hours,  the  Constitution  made  a  signal  for  the  brigs 
and  schooners  to  take  the  bombards  and  gun-boats  in  tow, 
and -the  squadron  hauled  off  for  its  anchorage  again.  Just 
at  this  time,  the  Argus  made  a  signal  that  the  sail  in  sight 
was  a  friend. 

The  gun-boats,  in  this  attack,  suffered  considerably.  In 
consequence  of  the  wind's  being  on-shore,  Com.  Preble  had 
kept  the  frigate  out  of  the  action,  and  the  enemy's  batteries 
had  no  interruption  from  the  heavy  fire  of  that  ship.  Seve- 
ral of  the  American  boats  had  been  hulled,  and  all  suffered 
materially  in  their  sails  and  rigging.  No.  6,  Lieut.  Wads- 
worth,  had  her  latine-yard  shot  away.  The  killed  and 
wounded  amounted  to  18  men. 

At  8  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  John  Adams  28,  Capt. 
Chauncey,  came  within  hail  of  the  Constitution,  and  report- 
ed herself  as  just  from  America.  By  this  ship,  Com.  Preble 
received  despatches  informing  him  of  the  equipment  of  the 
vessels  that  were  to  come  out  under  Com.  Barren,  and  of 
the  necessity,  which  was  thought  to  exist,  of  superseding 
him  in  the  command.  Capt.  Chauncey  also  stated  the  pro- 
bability of  the  speedy  arrival  of  the  expected  ships,  which 
were  to  sail  shortly  after  his  own  departure.  As  the  John 
Adams  had  brought  stores  for  the  squadron,  and  had  put 
most  of  her  gun-carriages  in  the  other  frigates  to  enable  her 
to  do  so,  she  could  be  of  no  immediate  use;  and  the  rest  of 
the  squadron  being  so  soon  expected,  Com.  Preble  was  iri- 

was  confirmed  at  home,  and  the  gentleman  in  question  has  since  worn  a 
broad  pennant.  It  is  believed  that  this  officer  and  one  other,  are  the  only 
two  in  the  navy  who  can  boast  of  having1  gone  through  all  the  gradations 
of  the  service,  from  forward,  aft. 

During  the  attack  of  the  7th,  Lieut.  Com.  Somers  was  standing  lean- 
ing against  the  flag-staff  of  No.  1,  as  the  boat  advanced  to  her  sta- 
tion. He  saw  a  shot  coming  directly  in  a  line  with  his  head,  and  stooped 
to  avoid  it.  The  shot  cut  the  flag-staff  in  two,  and,  after  the  affair,  Mr. 
Somers  stood  up  against  the  stump,  when  it  was  found  that,  had  he  not 
been  so  quick  in  his  movements,  the  shot  would  have  hit  his  chin. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


53 


duced  to  delay  the  other  attacks  he  had  meditated,  on  the 
ground  of  prudence. 

By  the  John  Adams,  intelligence  reached  the  squadron 
of  the  re-establishment  of  the  rank  of  masters  and  com- 
manders, and  the  new  commissions  were  brought  out  to  the 
officers  before  Tripoli,  who  had  been  promoted.  In  conse- 
quence of  these  changes,  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur  was  raised  to 
the  rank  of  captain,  and  became  the  second  in  command  in 
the  squadron ;  while  Lieuts.  Com.  Stewart,  Hull,  Chauncey, 
Smith,  and  Somers,  became  masters  commandant,  in  the 
order  in  which  they  are  named.  Several  of  the  young  gen- 
tlemen were  also  promoted,  including  most  of  those  who  had 
a  share  in  the  destruction  of  the  Philadelphia. 

The  bashaw  now  became  more  disposed  than  ever  to 
treat,  the  warfare  promising  much  annoyance,  with  scarce- 
ly any  corresponding  benefits.  The  cannonading  did  his 
batteries  and  vessels  great  injuries,  though  the  town  proba- 
bly suffered  less  than  might  have  been  expected,  being,  in 
a  measure,  protected  by  its  walls.  The  shells,  too,  that  had 
been  procured  at  Messina,  turned  out  to  be  very  bad,  few 
exploding  when  they  fell.*  The  case  was  different  with 
the  shot,  which  did  their  work  effectually  on  the  different 
batteries.  Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  spirit  of  the  last 
attack,  from  the  report  of  Corn.  Preble,  who  stated  that  nine 
guns,  one  of  which  was  used  but  a  short  time,  threw  500 
heavy  shot,  in  the  course  of  little  more  than  two  hours. 

Although  the  delay  caused  by  the  expected  arrival  of  the 
reinforcement,  was  improved  to  open  a  negotiation,  it  was 
without  effect.  The  bashaw  had  lowered  his  demands 


*  According  to  the  private  journal  of  Capt.  Bainbridge,  then  a  prisoner 
in  the  town,  out  of  forty-eight  shells,  thrown  by  the  two  bombards,  in  the 
attack  of  the  7th,  but  one  exploded.  Agreeably  to  the  records  made  by 
this  officer  at  the  time,  the  bombs,  on  no  occasion,  did  much  injury,  and 
the  town  generally,  suffered  less  by  shot  even,  than  was  commonly  sup- 
posed. 
VOL.  I.— 5 


5i  NAVAL  HISTORY*. 

quite  half,  but  he  still  insisted  on  a  ransom  of  $500  a  man 
for  his  prisoners,  though  he  waived  the  usual  claim  for 
tribute,  in  future.  These  propositions  were  rejected,  it 
being  expected  that,  after  the  arrival  of  the  reinforcement, 
the  treaty  might  be  made  on  the  usual  terms  of  civilized 
nations. 

On  the  9th  of  August  the  Argus,  Capt.  Hull,  had  a  nar- 
row escape.  That  brig  having  stood  in  towards  the  town, 
to  reconnoitre,  with  Com.  Preble  on  board,  one  of  the 
heaviest  of  the  shot  from  the  batteries,  raked  her  bottom, 
for  some  distance,  and  cut  the  planks  half  through.  An 
inch  or  two  of  variation  in  the  direction  of  this  shot,  would 
infallibly  have  sunk  the  brig,  and  that  probably  in  a  very 
few  minutes. 

No  intelligence  arriving  from  the  expected  vessels,  Com. 
Preble  about  the  16th,  began  to  make  his  preparations  for 
another  attack,  sending  the  Enterprise,  Lieut.  Com.  Robin- 
son, to  Malta,  with  orders  for  the  agent  to  forward  trans- 
ports with  water,  the  vessels  being  on  a  short  allowance  of 
that  great  essential.  On  the  night'  of  the  18th,  Captains 
Decatur  and  Chauncey  went  close  in,  in  boats,  and  recon- 
noitered  the  situation  of  the  enemy.  These  officers,  on 
their  return,  reported  that  the  vessels  of  the  Tripolitan  flo- 
tilla were  moored  abreast  of  each  other,  in  a  line  extending 
from  the  mole  to  the  castle,  with  their  heads  to  the  east- 
ward, which  was  making  a  defence  directly  across  the 
inner  harbour,  or  galley-mole. 

A  gale,  however,  compelled  the  American  squadron  to 
stand  off  shore  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  which  caused 
another  delay  in  the  contemplated  movements.  While 
lying-to,  in  the  offing,  the  vessels  met  the  transports  from 
Malta,  and  the  Enterprise  returned,  bringing  no  intelligence 
from  the  expected  reinforcement. 

On  the  24th,  the  squadron  stood  in  towards  the  town 
again,  with  a  light  breeze  from  the  eastward.  At  8  P.  M., 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  55 


the  Constitution  anchored  just  out  of  gun-shot  of  the  bat- 
teries, but  it  fell  calm,  and  the  boats  of  the  different  vessels 
were  sent  to  tow  the  bombards  to  a  position  favourable  for 
throwing  shells.  This  was  thought  to  have  been  effected 
by  2  A.  M.,  when  the  two  vessels  began  to  heave  their 
bombs,  covered  by  the  gun-boats.  At  day  light,  they  all 
retired,  without  having  received  a  shot  in  return.  Com. 
Preble  appears  to  have  distrusted  the  result  of  this  bom- 
bardment, the  first  attempted  at  night,  and  there  is  reason 
to  think  it  produced  but  little  effect.* 

The  weather  proving  very  fine  and  the  wind  favourable, 
on  the  28th,  Com.  Preble  determined  to  make  a  more  vi- 
gorous assault  on  the  town  and  batteries,  than  any  which 
had  preceded  it,  and  his  dispositions  were  taken  accord- 
ingly. The  gun-boats  arid  bombards  requiring  so  many 
men  to  manage  them,  the  Constitution  and  the  small  ves- 
sels had  been  compelled  to  go  into  action  short  of  hands, 
in  the  previous  affairs.  To  obviate  this  difficulty,  the  John 
Adams  had  been  kept  before  the  town,  and  a  portion  of  her 
officers  and  crew,  and  nearly  all  her  boats,  were  put  in  re- 
quisition, on  the  present  occasion.  Capt.  Chauncey,  him- 
self, with  about  seventy  of  his  people  went  on  board  the 
flag-ship,  and  all  the  boats  of  the  squadron  were  hoisted  out 
and  manned.  The  bombards  were  crippled  and  could  not 
be  brought  into  service,  a  circumstance  that  probably  was 
of  no  great  consequence,  on  account  of  the  badness  of  the 
materials  they  were  compelled  to  use.f  These  two  vessels, 
with  the  Scourge,  transports  and  John  Adams,  were  an- 

*  Capt.  Bainbridge,  in  his  private  journal,  says  that  all  the  shells  thrown 
on  this  occasion,  fell  short. 

f  It  is  stated  that  Com.  Preble  subsequently  discovered  lead  in  the  fuse- 
holes  of  many  of  the  bombs.  It  was  supposed  that  this  had  been  done  by 
treachery,  by  means  of  French  agents  in  Sicily,  the  shells  having  been 
charged  to  resist  the  French  invasion. 


. 


56  NAVAL  HISTORY, 

chored  well  off  at  sea,  as  not  being  available  in  the  contem- 
plated cannonading. 

Every  thing  being  prepared,  a  little  after  midnight  the 
following  gun-boats  proceeded  to  their  stations,  v-iz:  No.  1, 
Capt.  Somers;  No.  2,  Lieut.  Gordon;  No.  3,  Mr.  Brooks, 
master  of  the  Argus;  No.  4,  Capt.  Decatur;  No.  5,  Lieut. 
Lawrence;  No.  6,  Lieut.  Wadsworth;  No.  7,  Lieut.  Crane; 
and  No.  9,  Lieut.  Thorn.  They  were  divided  into  two  di- 
visions, as  before,  Capt.  Decatur  having  become  the  supe- 
rior officer,  however,  by  his  recent  promotion.  About  3, 
A.  M.  the  gun-boats  advanced  close  to  the  rocks  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  harbour,  covered  by  the  Siren,  Capt.  Stewart, 
Argus,  Capt.  Hull,  Vixen,  Capt.  Smith,  Nautilus,  Lieut. 
Reed,  and  Enterprise,  Lieut.  Com.  Robinson,  and  accom- 
panied by  all  the  boats  of  the  squadron.  Here  they  anchor- 
ed, with  springs  on  their  cables,  and  commenced  a  heavy 
fire  on  the  enemy's  shipping,  castle  and  town.  As  soon  as  the 
day  dawned,  the  Constitution  weighed  and  stood  in  towards 
the  rocks,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  batteries,  Fort  Eng- 
lish, and  the  castle.  At  this  time,  the  enemy's  gun-boats  and 
galleys,  thirteen  in  number,  were  closely  and  \varmly  engaged 
with  the  eight  American  boats;  and  the  Constitution,  order- 
ing the  latter  to  retire  by  signal,  as  their  ammunition  was 
mostly  consumed,  delivered  a  heavy  fire  of  round  and  grape 
on  the  former  as  she  came  up.  One  of  the  enemy's  boats 
was  soon  sunk,  two  were  run  ashore  to  prevent  them  from 
sinking,  and  the  rest  retreated. 

The  Constitution  now  continued  to  stand  on,  until  she  had 
run  in  within  musket  shot  of  the  mole,  when  she  brought-to, 
and  opened  upon  the  town,  batteries  and  castle.  Here  she 
lay  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  pouring  in  a  fierce  fire,  with 
great  effect,  until  finding  that  all  the  small  vessels  were  out 
of  gun-shot,  she  hauled  off.  About  700  heavy  shot  were 
hove  at  the  enemy,  in  this  attack,  besides  a  good  many 
from  the  chase-guns  of  the  small  vessels.  The  enemy  sus- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  57 

tained  much  damage,  and  lost  many  men.  The  American 
brigs  and  schooners  were  a  good  deal  injured  aloft,  as  was 
the  Constitution.  Although  the  latter  ship  was  so  long  within 
reach  of  grape,  many  of  which  shot  struck  her,  she  had  not 
a  man  hurt!  Several  of  her  shrouds,  back-stays,  trusses, 
spring-stays,  chains,  lifts,  and  a  great  deal  of  running  rig- 
ging were  shot  away,  and  yet  her  hull  escaped  with  very 
trifling  injuries.  A  boat  belonging  to  the  John  Adams,  un- 
der the  orders  of  Mr.  John  Orde  Creighton,  one  of  that 
ship's  master's  mates,  was  sunk  by  a  double-headed  shot, 
which  killed  three  men,  and  badly  wounded  a  fourth,  but 
the  officer  and  the  rest  of  the  boat's  crew  were  saved. 

In  this  attack  a  heavy  shot  from  the  American  gun-boats 
struck  the  castle,  passed  through  a  wall,  and-  rebounding 
from  the  opposite  side  of  the  room,  fell  within  six  inches  of 
Capt.  Bainbridge,  who  was  in  bed  at  the  moment,  and 
covered  him  with  stones  and  mortar,  from  under  which  he 
was  taken,  considerably  hurt,  by  his  own  officers.  More 
injury  was  done  the  town  in  this  attack,  than  in  either  of 
the  others,  the  shot  appearing  to  have  told  on  many  of  the 
houses. 

From  this  time  to  the  close  of  the  month,  preparations 
were  making  to  use  the  bombards  again,  and  for  renewing 
the  cannonading,  another  transport  having  arrived  from 
Malta,  without  bringing  any  intelligence  of  the  vessels  un- 
der the  orders  of  Com.  Barron.  On  the  3d  of  September, 
every  thing  being  ready,  at  half  past  two  the  signal  wras 
made  for  the  small  vessels  to  advance.  The  enemy  had 
improved  the  time  as  well  as  the  Americans,  and  they  had 
raised  three  of  their  own  gun-boats  that  had  been  sunk  in 
the  affairs  of  the  3d  and  of  the  28th  of  August.  These 
craft  were  now  added  to  the  rest  of  their  flotilla. 

The  Tripolitans  had  also  changed  their  mode  of  fighting. 
Hitherto,  with  the  exception  of  the  affair  of  the  3d,  their 
galleys  and  gun-boats  had  lain  either  behind  the  rocks,  in 

5* 


58  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

positions  to  fire  over  them,  or  at  the  openings  between  them, 
and  they  consequently  found  themselves  to  leeward  of  the 
frigate  and  small  American  cruisers,  the  latter  invariably 
choosing  easterly  winds  to  advance  with,  as  they  would  per- 
mit crippled  vessels  to  retire.  On  the  3d  of  August,  the  case 
excepted,  the  Turks  had  been  so  roughly  treated  by  being 
brought  hand  to  hand,  when  they  evidently  expected  nothing 
more  than  a  cannonade,  that  they  were  not  disposed  to  ven- 
ture again  outside  of  the  harbour.  On  the  3d  of  Septem- 
ber, however,  the  day  at  which  we  have  how  arrived, 
their  plan  of  defence  was  judiciously  altered.  No  sooner 
was  it  perceived  that  the  American  squadron  was  in  motion, 
with  a  fresh  design  to  annoy  them,  than  their  gun-boats  and 
galleys  got  under  way,  and  worked  up  to  windward,  until 
they  had  gained  a  station  on  the  weather  side  of  the  har- 
bour, directly  under  the  fire  of  Fort  English,  as  well  as  of  a 
new  battery  that  had  been  erected  a  little  to  the  west- 
ward of  the  latter. 

This  disposition  of  the  enemy's  force,  required  a  cor- 
responding change  on  the  part  ,of  the  Americans.  The 
bombards  were  directed  to  take  stations,  and  to  commence 
throwing  their  shells,  while  the  gun-boats,  in  two  divisions, 
commanded  as  usual,  by  Capts.  Decatur  and  Somers,  and 
covered  by  the  brigs  and  schooners,  assailed  the  enemy's 
flotilla.  This  arrangement  separated  the  battle  into  two 
distinct  parts,  leaving  the  bomb-vessels  very  much  exposed 
to  the  fire  of  the  castle,  the  mole,  crown,  and  other  bat- 
teries. 

The  Tripolitan  gun-boats  and  galleys,  stood  the  fire  of 
the  American  flotilla,  until  the  latter  had  got  within  reach 
of  musketry,  when  they  retreated.  The  assailants  now 
separated,  some  of  the  gun-boats  following  the  enemy,  and 
pouring  in  their  fire,  while  the  others,  with  the  brigs  and 
schooners,  cannonaded  Fort  English. 

In  the  mean  while,  perceiving  that  the  bombards  were 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  59 

suffering  severely  from  the  undisturbed  fire  of  the  guns  to 
which  they  were  exposed,  Com.  Preble  ran  down  in  the 
Constitution,  quite  near  the  rocks,  and  within  the  bomb 
vessels,  and  brought-to.  Here  the  frigate  opened  as  warm 
a  fire  as  probably  ever  came  out  of  the  broadside  of  a  sin- 
gle-decked ship,  and  in  a  position  where  seventy  heavy 
guns  could  bear  upon  her.  The  whole  harbour,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  town,  was  glittering  with  the  spray  of  her 
shot,  and  each  battery,  as  usual,  was  silenced,  as  soon  as 
it  drew  her  attention.  After  throwing  more  than  three 
hundred  round  shot,  besides  grape  and  cannister,  the  frigate 
hauled  off,  having  previously  ordered  the  other  vessels  to 
retire  from  action,  by  signal. 

The  gun-boats,  in  this  affair,  were,  an  hour  and  fifteen 
minutes  in  action,  in  which  time  they  threw  four  hundred 
round  shot,  besides  grape  and  cannister.  Lieut.  Trippe, 
who  had  so  much  distinguished  himself,  and  who  had  re- 
ceived so  many  wounds  that  day  month,  resumed  the  com- 
mand of  No.  6,  for  this  occasion.  Lieut.  Morris,  of  the 
Argus,  was  in  charge  of  No.  3.  All  the  small  vessels  suf- 
fered, as  usual,  aloft,  and  the  Argus  sustained  some  damage 
in  her  hull. 

The  Constitution  was  so  much  exposed  in  the  attack  just 
related,  that  her  escape  can  only  be  attributed  to  the  weight 
of  her  own  fire.  It  had  been  found,  in  the  previous  affairs, 
that  so  long  as  this  ship  could  play  upon  a  battery,  the 
Turks  could  not  be  kept  at  its  guns;  and  it  was  chiefly 
while  she  was  veering,  or  tacking,  that  she  suffered.  But, 
after  making  every  allowance  for  the  effect  of  her  own  can- 
nonade, and  for  the  imperfect  gunnery  of  the  enemy,  it 
creates  wonder  that  a  single  frigate  could  lie  opposed  to 
more  than  double  her  own  number  of  available  guns,  and 
these  too,  principally,  of  heavier  metal,  while  they  were  pro- 
tected by  stone  walls.  On  this  occasion,  the  frigate  was  not 
supported  by  the  gun-boats,  at  all,  and  she  became  the  sole 


60  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

object  of  the  enemy's  aim,  after  the  bombards  had  with- 
drawn. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  the  Constitution  suffered 
more,  in  the  attack  just  recorded,  than  in  any  of  the  previous 
affairs,  though  she  received  nothing  larger  than  grape  in  her 
hull.  She  had  three  shells  through  her  canvass,  one  of  which 
rendered  the  main-top-sail  momentarily  useless.  Her  sails, 
standing  and  running  rigging  were  also  much  cut  with 
shot.  Capt.  Chauncey,  of  the  John  Adams,  and  a  party  of 
his  officers  and  crew,  served  in  the  Constitution  again,  on 
this  day,  and  were,  of  essential  use.  Indeed,  in  all  the 
service  which  succeeded  her  arrival,  the  commander,  offi- 
cers and  crew  of  the  John  Adams  were  actively  employed, 
though  the  ship  herself  could  not  be  brought  before  the  ene- 
my, for  the  want  of  gun-carriages. 

The  bombards,  having  been  much  exposed,  suffered  ac- 
cordingly. No.  1,  was  so  much  crippled,  gs  to  be  unable 
to  move,  without  being  towed,  and  was  near  sinking, 
when  she  was  got  to  the  anchorage.  Every  shroud  she 
had,  was  shot  away.  Com.  Preble  expressed  himself  satis- 
fied with  the  good  conduct  of  every  man  in  the  squadron. 
All  the  vessels  appear  to  have  been  well  conducted,  and  ef- 
ficient in  their  several  stations.  Of  the  effect  of  the  shells, 
there  is  no  account  to  be  relied  on,  though  it  is  probable 
that,  as  usual,  many  did  not  explode.  There  is  no  doubt, 
however,  that  the  bombs  were  well  directed,  and  that  they 
fell  into  the  town. 

While  Com.  Preble  was  thus  actively  employed  in  car- 
rying on  the  war  against  the  enemy,  the  attack  just  re- 
lated, having  been  the  fifth  made  on  the  town  within  a 
month,  he  was  rpeditating  another  species  of  annoyance, 
that  about  this  time  was  nearly  ready  to  be  put  in  execu- 
tion. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  61 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE  ketch,  Intrepid,  that  had  been  employed  by  Mr.  De- 
catur  in  burning  the  Philadelphia,  was  still  in  the  squadron, 
having  been  used  of  late,  as  a  transport  between  Tripoli 
and  Malta.  This  vessel  had  been  converted  into  an  "  in- 
fernal," or,  to  use  more  intelligible  terms,  she  had  been 
fitted  as  a  floating  mine,  with  the  intention  of  sending  her 
into  the  harbour  of  Tripoli,  to  explode  among  the  enemy's 
cruisers.  As  every  thing  connected  with  the  history  of  this 
little  vessel,  as  well  as  with  the  enterprise  in  which  she  was 
now  to  be  employed,  will  have  interest  with  the  public, 
we  shall  be  more  particular  than  common,  in  giving  the  de- 
tails of  this  affair,  as  they  have  reached  us  through  public 
documents,  and  oral  testimony  that  is  deemed  worthy  of 
entire  credit. 

A  small  room,  or  magazine,  had  been  planked  up,  in  the 
hold  of  the  ketch,  just  forward  of  her  principal  mast.  Com- 
municating with  this  magazine,  was  a  small  trunk  or  tube, 
that  led  aft,  to  another  room  filled  with  combustibles.  In  the 
planked  room,  or  magazine,  were  placed  one  hundred  barrels 
of  gunpowder  in  bulk,  and  on  the  deck  immediately  above 
the  powder,  were  laid  50  thirteen  and  a  half  inch  shells,  and 
100  nine  inch  shells,  with  a  large  quantity  of  shot,  pieces  of 
kentledge,  and  fragments  of  iron  of  different  sorts.  A  train 
was  laid  in  the  trunk,  or  tube,  and  fuses  were  attached 
in  the  proper  manner.  In  addition  to  this  arrangement, 


62  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  other  small  room  mentioned,  was  filled  with  splinters 
and  light  wood,  which,  besides  firing  the  train,  were  to  keep 
the  enemy  from  boarding,  as  the  flames  would  be  apt  to 
induce  them  to  apprehend  an  immediate  explosion. 

The  plan  was  well  laid.  It  was  the  intention  to  profit 
by  the  first  dark  night  that  offered,  to  carry  the  ketch  as 
far  as  possible  into  the  galley-mole,  to  light  the  fire  in  the 
splinter-room,  and  for  the  men  employed,  to  make  their  re- 
treat in  boats. 

The  arrangements  for  carrying  this  project  into  effect, 
appear  to  have  been  made  with  care  and  prudence.  Still 
the  duty,  on  every  account,  was  deemed  desperate.  It  was 
necessary,  in  the  first  place,  to  stand  in  by  the  western  or  lit- 
tle passage,  in  a  dull  sailing  vessel,  and  with  a  light  wind,  di- 
rectly in  the  face  of  several  batteries,  the  fire  of  wrhich 
could  only  be  escaped  by  the  enemy's  mistaking  the  ketch 
for  a  vessel  endeavouring  to  force  the  blockade.  It  would 
also  be  required  to  pass  quite  near'  these  batteries,  and,  as 
the  ketch  advanced,  she  would  be  running  in  among  the 
gun-boats  and  galleys  of  the  enemy.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
point  out  the  hazards  of  such  an  exploit,  as  a  simple  can- 
nonade directed  against  a  small  vessel  filled  with  powder, 
would  of  itself  be,  in  the  last  degree,  dangerous.  After 
every  thing  had  succeeded  to  the  perfect  hopes  of  the  as- 
sailants, there  existed  the  necessity  of  effecting  a  retreat, 
the  service  being  one  in  which  no  quarter  could  be  asked. 

Such  a  duty  could  be  confided  to  none  but  officers  and 
men  of  known  coolness  and  courage,  of  perfect  self-pos- 
session, and  of  tried  spirit.  Capt.  Somers,  who  had  com- 
manded one  division  of  the  gun-boats  in  the  different  at- 
tacks on  the  town  that  have  been  related,  in  a  manner  to 
excite  the  respect  of  all  who  witnessed  his  conduct,  volun- 
teered to  take  charge  of  this  enterprise,  and  Lieut.  Wads- 
worth,  of  the  Constitution,  an  officer  of  great  merit,  offered 
himself  as  the  second  in  command.  It  being  unnecessary 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  63 

to  send  in  any  more  than  these  two  gentlemen,  with  the  few 
men  needed  to  manage  the  ketch  and  row  the  boats,  no 
other  officer  was  permitted  to  go,  though  it  is  understood 
that  several  volunteered. 

The  night  of  the  4th  of  September,  or  that  of  the  day 
which  succeeded  the  attack  last  related,  promising  to  be 
dark,  and  there  being  a  good  leading  wind  from  the  east- 
ward, it  was  selected  for  the  purpose.  Com.  Preble  appears 
to  have  viewed  the  result  of  this  expedition  with  great  anx- 
iety, and  to  have  ordered  all  its  preparations,  with  the  utmost 
personal  attention  to  the  details.  This  feeling  is  believed  to 
have  been  increased  by  his  knowledge  of  the  character  of 
the  officers  who  were  to  go  in,  and  who,  it  was  understood, 
had  expressed  a  determination  neither  to  be  taken,  nor  to 
permit  the  ammunition  in  the  ketch  to  fall  into  the  enemy's 
hands.  The  latter  point  was  one  of  great  importance,  it 
being  understood  that  the  Tripolitans,  like  the  Americans, 
were  getting  to  be  in  want  of  powder.*  In  short,  it  was 
the  general  understanding  in  the  squadron,  before  the  ketch 
proceeded, '  that  her  officers  had  determined  not  to  be 
taken.  Two  fast-rowing  boats,  one  belonging  to  the  Con- 
stitution, that  pulled  six  oars,  and  one  belonging  to  the  Siren, 
that  pulled  four  oars,  weTe  chosen  to  bring  the  party  off, 
and  their  crews  were  volunteers  from  the  Constitution  and 
Nautilus.  At  the  last  moment,  Mr.  Israel,  an  ardent  young 
officer,  whose  application  to  go  in,  had  been  rejected,  found 
means  to  get  on  board  the  ketch,  and,  in  consideration  of 
his  gallantry,  he  was  permitted  to  join  the  party. 

When  all  was  ready,  or  about  8  o'clock  in  the  evening  of 

*  A  day,  or  two,  before  the  ketch  was  ready,  the  commodore  himself 
was  trying  a  port-fire,  in  the  cabin  of  the  Constitution,  in  the  presence  of 
Capt.  Somers,  and  one  or  two  other  officers,  and  finding  that  one  burned  a 
-particular  time,  by  the  watch,  he  remarked  that  he  thought  '?it  burned 
longer  than  was  necessary,  as  the  time  might  enable  the  enemy  to  ap- 
proach and  extinguish  it  before  the  train  would  be  fired."  "  I  ask  for  no 
port-fire,  at  all,"  was  the  quiet  answer  of  Capt.  Somers. 


64  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  day  just  mentioned,  the  Intrepid  was  under  way,  with 
the  Argus,  Vixen  and  Nautilus  in  company.  Shortly  after, 
the  Siren  also  weighed,  by  a  special  order  from  the  com- 
modore, and  stood  in  towards  the  western  passage,  or  that 
by  which  the  ketch  was  to  enter,  where  she  remained  to 
look  out  for  the  boats. 

The  Nautilus,  Capt.  Somers'  own  vessel,  accompanied 
the  ketch  close  in,  but,  on  reaching  a  position  where  there 
was  danger  of  her  creating  suspicions  by  being  seen,  she 
hauled  off,  to  take  her  station,  like  the  other  small  vessels, 
near  the  rocks,  in  order  to  pick  up  the  retreating  boats. 
The  last  person  of  the  squadron  who  had  any  communica- 
tion with  Capt.  Somers,  was  Mr.  Washington  Reed,  the  first 
lieutenant  of  his  own  schooner,  the  Nautilus,  who  left  him 
about  9  o'clock.  At  that  time  all  was  cabn,  collected  and 
in  order  on  board  the  "  infernal."  The  general  uneasiness 
was  increased  by  the  circumstance  that  three  gun-boats  lay 
near  the  entrance ;  and  some  of  the  last  words  of  the  experi- 
enced Decatur,  before  taking  leave  of  his  friend,  were  to 
caution  him  against  these  boats. 

The  night  was  darker  than  usual,  and  the  last  that  may  be 
said  to  have  been  seen  of  the  Intrepid,  was  the  shadowy  forms 
of  her  canvass,  as  she  steered  slowly,  but  steadily,  into  the  ob- 
scurity, where  the  -eyes  of  the  many  anxious  spectators  fan- 
cied they  could  still  trace  her  dim  outline,  most  probably 
after  it  had  totally  disappeared.  This  sinking  into  the  gloom 
of  night,  was  no  bad  image  of  the  impenetrable  mystery  that 
has  veiled  the  subsequent  proceedings  of  the  gallant  party 
on  board  her. 

When  the  Intrepid  was  last  seen  by  the  naked  eye,  she 
was  not  a  musket-shot  from  the  mole,  standing  directly  for 
the  harbour.  One  officer  on  board  the  nearest  vessel,  the 
Nautilus,  is  said,  however,  to  have  never  lost  sight  of  her 
with  a  night-glass,  but  even  he  could  distinguish  no  more 
than  her  dim  proportions.  There  is  a  vague  rumour  that  she 


T»AVAL  HISTORF.  65 

touched  on  the  rocks,  but  it  does  not  appear  to  rest  on  suffi- 
cient authority  to  be  entitled  to  absolute  credit.  To  the  last 
moment,  she  appears  to  have  been  advancing.  About  this 
time,  the  batteries  began  to  fire.  Their  shot  is  said  to  have 
been  directed  towards  every  point  where  an  enemy  might 
be  expected,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  some  were  aimed 
against  the  ketch.  • 

The  period  between  the  time  when  the  Intrepid  was  last 
seen,  and  that  when  most  of  those  who  watched  without  the 
rocks  learned  her  fate,  was  not  very  long.  This  was 
an  interval  of  intense,  almost  of  breathless  expectation,  and 
it  was  interrupted  only  by  the  flashes  and  roar  of  the  ene- 
my's guns.  Various  reports  exist  of  what  those  who  gazed 
into  the  gloom  beheld,  or  fancied  they  beheld ;  but  one 
melancholy  fact  alone  would  seem  to  be  beyond  contradic- 
tion. A  fierce  and  sudden  light  illuminated  the  panorama, 
a  torrent  of  fire  streamed  upward,  that  in  shape  resembled 
the  great  eruption  of  .Vesuvius  as  it  has  been  described  by 
Pliny,  and  a  concussion  followed  that  made  the  cruisers  in 
the  offing  tremble  from  their  trucks  to  their  keels.  This 
sudden  blaze  of  light  was  followed  by  a  darkness  of  two-fold 
intensity,  and  the  guns  of  the  batteries  became  mute,  as  if 
annihilated.  Numerous  shells  had  been  seen  in  the  air,  and 
some  of  them  descended  on  the  rocks,  where  they  were 
heard  to  fall.  Their  fuses  were  burning,  and  a  few  exploded, 
but  much  the  greater  part  were  extinguished  in  the  water. 
The  mast,  too,  had  risen  perpendicularly,  with  its  rigging 
and  canvass  blazing,  but  the  descent  veiled  all  in  night. 

So  sudden  and  tremendous  was  the  eruption,  and  so  in- 
tense the  darkness  which  succeeded,  that  it  was  not  possible 
to  ascertain  the  precise  position  of  the  ketch  at  the  moment. 
In  the  glaring,  but  fleeting  light,  no  person  could  say  that  he 
had  noted  more  than  one  material  circumstance,  the  fact 
that  the  Intrepid  had  not  reached  the  point  at  which  she 
aimed.  The  shells  had  not  spread  far,  and  those  which  fell 

VOL.  II.— G 


06  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

on  the  rocks  were  so  many  proofs  of  this  important  truth. 
There  was  no  other  fact  to  indicate  the  precise  spot  where 
the  ketch  exploded.  A  few  cries  arose  from  the  town,  but 
the  subsequent  and  deep  silence  that  followed  was  more 
eloquent  than  any  clamour.  The  whole  of  Tripoli  was  like 
a  city  of  tombs. 

If  every,  eye  had  been  watchful  previously  to  the  explo- 
sion, every  eye  now  became  doubly  vigilant  to  discover  the 
retreating  boats.  Men  got  over  the  sides  of  the  vessels, 
holding  lights,  and  placing  their  ears  near  the  water,  in  the 
hope  of  detecting  the  sounds  of  even  muffled  oars  ;  and  often 
was  it  fancied  that  the  gallant  adventurers  were  near.  They 
never  re-appeared.  Hour  after  hour  went  by,  until  hope  it- 
self began  to  fail.  Occasionally,  a  rocket  gleamed  in  the 
darkness,  or  a  sullen  gun  was  heard  from  the  frigate,  as 
signals  to  the  bqats;  but  the  eyes  that  should  have  seen 
the  first,  were  sightless,  and  the  last  tolled  on  the  ears  of  the 
dead. 

The  three  vessels  assigned  to  that  service,  hovered  around 
the  harbour  until  the  sun  rose,  but  few  traces  of  the  Intre- 
pid, and  nothing  of  her  devoted  crew  could  be  discovered. 
The  wreck  of  the  mast  lay  on  the  rocks  near  the  western 
entrance,  and  here  and  there  a  fragment  was  visible  nigh 
it.  One  of  the  largest  of  the  enemy's  gun-boats  was 
missing,  and  it  was  observed  that  two  others,  which  appear- 
ed to  be  shattered,  were  being  hauled  upon  the  shore.  The 
three  that  had  lain  across  the  entrance  had  disappeared. 
It  was  erroneously  thought  that  the  castle  had  sustained 
some  injury  from  the  concussion,  though,  on  the  whole,  the 
Americans  were  left  with  the  melancholy  certainty  of  hav- 
ing met  with  a  serious  loss,  without  obtaining  a  commensu- 
rate advantage. 

It  is  now  known  that  the  bottom  of  the  ketch  grounded 
on  the  north  side  of  the  rocks,  near  the  round  battery  at  the 
end  of  the  mole,  and  as  the  wind  was  at  the  eastward,  this 
renders  it  certain  that  the  explosion  took  place  in  the  west- 


NAVAL  HISTORV.  67 


ern  entrance  to  the  harbour,  and  fully  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  the  spot  that  it  was  intended  the  ketch  should  reach. 
In  the  wreck  were  found  two  mangled  bodies,  and  four 
more  were  picked  up  on  the  6th,  floating  in  the  harbour,  or 
lodged  on  the  shore.  These  bodies  were  in  the  most  shock- 
ing state  of  mutilation,  and,  though  Capt.  Bainbridge  and 
one  or  two  of  his  companions  were  taken  to  see  them,  it  was 
found  impossible  to  distinguish  even  the  officers  from  the 
men.  It  is  understood  that  six  more  bodies  were  found,  the 
day  after  the  explosion,  on  the  shore  to  the  southward  of 
the  town,  and  that  a  six-oared  boat,  with  one  body  in  it,  had 
drifted  on  the  beach  a  little  to  the  westward.* 

These  statements  account  for  all  those  who  went  in  the 
ketch,  and  furnish  conjectural  clues  to  facts  that  would 
otherwise  be  veiled  in  impenetrable  mystery.  The  spot 
where  the  boat  was  found,  was  a  proof  that  the  ketch  had 
not  got  very  far  into  the  passage,  or  the  cutter  could  not 
have  drifted  clear  of  the  natural  mole  to  the  westward.  The 
reason  that  the  boat  and  the  ketch's  bottom  were  not  found 
near  the  same  spot,  was  probably  owing  to  the  circumstance 
that  the  first  was  acted  on  more  by  the  wind,  and  the  last 
by  the  current ;  and  to  the  fact  that  a  boat  may  have  drifted 
through  rocks,  with  which  the  shore  is  every  where  more 
or  less  lined,  that  would  have  brought  up  the  wreck. 

As  there  was  but  one  body  found  in  the  boat,  we  are  left 
to  suppose  it  was  that  of  the  keeper.  Of  the  four-oared 
boat,  or  that  which  belonged  to  the  Siren,  there  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  any  tidings,  and  it  was  either  destroy- 
ed by  the  explosion,  sunk  by  the  fall  of  fragments,  or  pri- 
vately appropriated  to  himself,  by  some  Tripolitan. 

From  the  fact  of  there  being  but  a  single  man  in  the  Con- 
stitution's cutter,  we  are  left  to  infer  that  most  of  the  officers 
and  men  were  on  board  the  ketch,  herself,  when  she  blew 

*  Capt  Bainb ridge's  private  journal. 


68  NAVAL  HISTORY, 

up.  No  person  is  understood  to  say  that  any  of  the  enemy's 
vessels  were  seen  near  the  ketch,  when  she  exploded,  and, 
with  these  meagre  premises,  we  are  lefi  to  draw  our  infe- 
ences  as  to  the  causes  of  the  disaster. 

That  Capt.  Somers  was  as  capable  of  sacrificing  himself, 
when  there  was  an  occasion  for  it,  as  any  man  who  ever 
lived,  is  probably  as  true,  as  it  is  certain  that  he  would 
not  destroy  himself,  and  much  less  others,  without  sufficient 
reason.  It  has  been  supposed  that  the  ketch  was  boarded 
by  the  enemy,  and  that  her  resolute  commander  fired  the 
train,  in  preference  to  being  taken.  The  spirit  created  by 
the  chivalrous  exploits  of  Decatur,  and  the  high-toned  dis- 
cipline and  daring  of  Preble,  had  communicated  to  all  under 
their  orders'as  lofty  sentiments  of  duty  and  zeal,  as  probably 
were  ever  found  among  an  equal  body  of  generous  and  ar- 
dent young  men;  but  it  is  not  easy  to  discover  a  motive 
why  the  explosion  should  have  been  an  intentional  act  of 
the  Americans,  and  it  is  easy  to  discover  many  why  it  should 
not. 

There  would  be  but  one  sufficient  justification  for  an  offi- 
cer's sacrificing  himself,  or  his  people,  under  such  circum- 
stances, and  that  was  the  impossibility  of  preventing  the 
ketch  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  by  any 
other  means.  Neither  the  evidence  of  eye-witnesses,  so  far 
as  it  is  available,  nor  the  accounts  of  the  Tripolitans  them- 
selves, would  appear  to  show,  that  when  the  Intrepid  ex- 
ploded, any  enemy  was  near  enough  to  render  so  desper- 
ate a  step  necessary.  According  to  the  private  journal  of 
Capt.  Bainbridge,  neither  the  town,  nor  the  Turks  suffered 
materially,  and  he  was  carried  to  the  beach  to  see  the  dead 
bodies,  on  the  8th,  or  two  days  after  the  affair.  This 
alone  would  prove  that  the  ketch  did  not  reach  the  mole. 
If  the  object  were  merely  to  destroy  the  powder,  the  men 
would  have  been  previously  ordered  into  the  boats,  and, 
even  under  circumstances  that  rendered  a  resort  to  the  fuse 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  69 

inexpedient,  the  train  would  have  been  used.  That  only 
one  man  was  in  the  largest  boat,  is  known  from  the  condi- 
tion in  which  she  was  found,  and  this  could  hardly  have 
happened,  under  any  circumstances,  had  the  magazine  been 
fired  intentionally,  by  means  of  the  train.  Every  contin- 
gency had,  doubtless,  been  foreseen.  One  man  was  as 
able  as  twenty  to  apply  the  match,  and  we  can  see  but  one 
state  of  things,  besides  being  boarded  by  surprise,  that  would 
render  it  likely  that  the  match  would  have  been  used  until 
the  people  were  in  their  boats,  or  that  it  would  have  been 
applied  at  any  other  spot,  than  at  the  end  of  the  train,  or  aft. 
A  surprise  of  the  nature  mentioned,  would  seem  to  have 
been  impossible,  for,  though  the  night  was  dark,  objects 
might  still  be  seen  at  some  little  distance,  and  it  is  probable, 
also,  that  the  party  had  glasses. 

From  weighing  these  circumstances,  it  is  the  most  ra- 
tional opinion  that  the  Intrepid  exploded  accidentally.  She 
was  under  fire  at  the  time,  and  though  it  is  improbable 
that  the  enemy  had  any  shot  heated  to  repel  an  attack 
so  unexpected,  a  cold  shot  might  easily  have  fired  a  ma- 
gazine in  the  situation  of  that  of  the  Intrepid.  The  deck 
of  the  ketch,  moreover,  was  covered  with  loaded  shells, 
and  one  of  these  might  have  been  struck  and  broken. 
Some  other  unforeseen  accident  may  have  occurred.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  is  necessary  to  state,  that  Com.  Preble  firm- 
ly believed  that  his  officers  blew  themselves  up,  in  preference 
to  being  made  prisoners;  an  opinion  in  which  it  would 
not  be  difficult  to  coincide,  were  there  proof  that  they 
were  in  any 'immediate  danger  of  such  a  calamity.  It  was 
also  the  general  conjecture  in  the  squadron  then  before 
Tripoli,  that  such  had  been  the  fate  of  these  bold  adven- 
turers, but  it  would  seem  to  have  been  formed  at  the  time, 
rather  on  an  opinion  of  what  the  party  that  went  in  was 
capable  of  doing,  than  on  any  evidence  of  what  it  had  ac- 
tually done. 

6* 


70  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

As  it  is  the  province  of  the  historian  to  present  all  the 
leading  facts  of  his  subject,  we  shall  add,  on  the  other 
hand,  that  many  little  collateral  circumstances  appear  to 
have  occurred,  which  may  be  thought  to  give  force  to  the 
truth  of  the  common  impression.  One  of  the  best  authenti- 
cated of  these,  is  connected  with  what  was  seen,  from  a 
vessel  that  was  watching  the  ketch,  though  it  was  not  the 
schooner  nearest  in.  On  board  this  vessel  a  light  was  ob- 
served moving, on  a  horizontal  line,  as  if  carried  swiftly 
along  a  vessel's  deck  by  some  one  in  hurried  motion,  and 
then  to  drop  suddenly,  like  a  lantern  sinking  beneath  a 
hatchway.  Immediately  afterwards  the  ketch  exploded, 
and  at  that  precise  spot,  which  would  seem  to  leave  no 
doubt  that  this  light  was  on  board  the  Intrepid.  But  even 
this  by  no  means  establishes  the  fact  that  the  explosion  was 
intentional.  The  splinters,  that  were  to  keep  the  enemy 
aloof,  had  not  been  lighted,  and  this  movement  with  the  lan- 
tern may  have  been  intended  to  fire  them,  and  may  have 
had  some  accidental  connexion  with  the  explosion. 

In  addition  to  this  appearance  of  the  light,  which  rests 
on  testimony  every  way  entitled  to  respect,  there  was 
a  report  brought  off  by  the  prisoners,  then  in  Tripoli,  when 
liberated,  from  which  anpther  supposition  has  been  formed 
as  to  the  fate  of  this  devoted  vessel,  that  is  not  without  plausi- 
bility. It  was  said  that  most  of  the  bodies  found  had  receiv- 
ed gun-shot  wounds,  especially  from  grape.  One  body,  in 
particular,  was  described  as  having  had  the  small  remains 
,of  nankeen  pantaloons  on  it,  and  it  was  also  reported  that 
the  hair*  was  of  a  deep  black.  Through  this  person, 
according  to  the  report,  no  less  than  three  grape  shot 
had  passed.  This  has  been  supposed  to  have  been  the  body 
of  Capt.  Somers,  himself,  who  was  the  only  one  of  the  party 

*  It  is  possible  certainly  that  this  mark  may  have  been  observed,  but 
it  is  more  probable  that  the  hair  would  have  been  consumed.  Still  a  hat 
may  have  saved  it. 


% 

JTAVAL  HISTORY.  71 

i       <>-' 

that  wore  nankeen,  and  whose  hair  was  of  a  deep  black. 
On  the  supposition  that  the  proofs  of  the  grape-shot  wounds 
actually  existed,  it  has  been  conjectured  that,  as  the  ketch 
advanced,  she  was  fired  into  with  grape,  most  of  her  people 
shot  down,  and  that  the  magazine  was  touched  off  by  the 
two  whose  bodies  were  found  in  the  wreck,  and  who  were 
probably  below  when  the  Intrepid  exploded. 

That  a  x;lose  fire  was  opened  when  the  ketch  appeared, 
is  beyond  doubt,  and  that  she  was  quite  near  the  mole  and 
crown  batteries  when  the  explosion  occurred,  is  known,  not 
only  by  means  of  the  glass,  but  by  the  parts  of  the  wreck 
that  fell  on  the  rocks.  Indeed,  the  situation  of  the  latter 
would  give  reason  to  suppose  there  might  be  some  truth  in 
the  rumour  that  she  had  grounded,  in  which  case  her  des- 
truction by  means  of  shot  would  have  been  rendered  cer- 
tain. 

The  prevalent  opinion  that  the  Intrepid  was  boarded  by 
one  or  more  of  the  gun-boats  that  lay  near  the  entrance, 
would  seem  to  have  been  entertained  without  sufficient 
proof.  These  vessels  lay  some  distance  within  the  spot 
where  the  ketch  blew  up,  and  it  was  not  probable  that  they 
would  have  advanced  to  meet  a  vessel  entering  the  harbour; 
for  did  they  suppose  her  a  friend,  there  would  have  been  no 
motive,  and  did  they  suppose  her  an  enemy,  they  would  have 
been  much  more  likely  to  avoid  her.  So  shy,  indeed,  had  the 
Tripolitans  become,  after  the  burnirig  of  the  Philadelphia, 
and  the  boarding  of  their  boats,  that  it  was  found  extreme- 
ly difficult  to  get  their  small  vessels  within  the  range  of 
musket  balls.  Gapt.  Somers  was  known  to  have  felt  no  ap- 
prehensions of  being  boarded  by  these  three  boats,  for, 
when  cautioned  by  his  friend  Decatur  on  that  head,  his 
answer  was,  "  they  will  be  more  likely  to  cut  and  run."  In 
this  opinion,  that  cool  and  observant  officer,  was  probably 
right.  Had  there  been  any  vessel  near  the  Intrepid  when 
she  blew  up,  the  light  of  the  explosion  would  have  permitted 


72  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

her,  also,  to  be  seen;  some  portions  of  her  wreck  would 
have  been  visible  next  day;  and  her  masts  and  sails  would 
probably  have  been  flying  in  the  air,  as  well  as  those  of  the 
ketch. 

But  the  fact  that  only  thirteen  bodies  are  spoken  of,  in  the 
private  journal  of  Capt.  Bainbridge,  is  almost  conclusive 
on  the  subject  that  no  Tripolitan  vessel  was  blown  up  on 
this  occasion.  This  entry  was  made  at  the  time,  and  be- 
fore the  nature  of  the  expedition,  or  the  number  of  those 
who  had  been  sent  in  the  ketch  were  known  to  the  Ameri- 
cans in  Tripoli.  The  thirteen  bodies  account  exactly  for 
all  on  board,  and  as  they  came  ashore  in  a  most  mutilated 
state,  without  clothes,  in  some  instances  without  legs,  arms 
or  heads,  it  was  impossible  to  say  whether  they  were  the 
mangled  remains  of  friends,  or  enemies.  Had  a  Tripolitan 
blown  up  in  company,  there  must  have  been  many  more 
bodies  in  the  same  state,  instead  of  the  precise  number  men- 
tioned, and  Capt.  Bainbridge  would  have  been  as  likely  to 
be  taken  to  see  a  dead  Turk,  as  to  see  a  dead  American. 

The  missing  gun-boat  of  which  Com.  Preble  speaks  in  his 
report,  may  have  been  sunk  by  a  falling  shell ;  she  may  have 
been  shattered  and  hauled  into  the  galley-mole,  out  of  sight; 
or,  she  may  have  removed  in  the  darkness,  and  been  con- 
founded next  morning  with  others  of  the  flotilla.  Observa- 
tions made,  by  meahs  of  glasses,  in  a  crowded  port,  at  a 
distance  of  two  or  three  miles,  are  liable  to  many  errors. 
In  short,  it  would  seem  to  be  the  better  opinion,  that,  from 
some  untoward  circumstance,  the  Intrepid  exploded  at  a 
point  where  she  did  little,  or  no  injury,  to  the  enemy.* 

*  The  entry  in  the  private  journal  of  Capt.  Bainbridge  is  as  follows: 
"Was  informed  that  the  explosion  that  we  heard  last  night  proceeded 
from  a  vessel  (which  the  Americans  attempted  to  send  into  the  harbour,) 
blowing  up;  which  unfortunate  scheme  did  no  damage  whatever  to  the 
Tripolitans;  nor  did  it  even  appear  to  heave  them  into  confusion."  "  On 
the  8th,  by  the  bashaw's  permission,  with  Lieut ,  went  to  the  beach 


*\        • 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  73 

One  of  three  things  seems  to  be  highly  probable,  con- 
cerning this  long  disputed  point.  The  ketch  has  either 
exploded  by  means  of  the  enemy's  shot,  than  which  nothing 
\vas  easier  in  the  situation  where  she  lay;  the  men  have 
accidentally  fired  the  magazine,  while  preparing  to  light  the 
splinters  below,  or  it  has  been  done  intentionally,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  desperate  condition  to  which  the  party  was 
reduced,  by  the  destruction  caused  by  grape.  Of  the  three, 
after  weighing  all  the  circumstances,  it  is  natural  to  be- 
lieve that  the  first  was  the  most  probable,  as  it  was  certainly 
easier  to  cause  a  vessel  like  the  Intrepid,  with  a  hundred 
barrels  of  loose  powder  in  her  magazine,  to  explode  by 
means  of  shot,  than  to  cause  a  vessel  like  No.  8,  which  is 
known  to  have  been  blown  up,  in  this  manner,  in  the  action  of 
the  7th  of  August.  As  regards  the  grape-shot  wounds,  it 
will  be  seen  that  Capt.  Bainbridge  is  silent. 

A  sad  and  solemn  mystery,  after  all  our  conjectures, 
must  for  ever  veil  the  fate  of  these  fearless  officers  and 
their  hardy  followers.  In  whatever  light  we  view  the  af- 
fair, they  were  the  victims  of  that  self-devotion  which 

of  the  harbour,  and  there  saw  six  persons  in  a  most  mangled  and  burnt 
condition,  lying  on  the  shore;  whom  we  supposed  to  have  been  part  of 
the  unfortunate  crew  of  the  fire-vessel,  the  bottom  of  which  grounded 
on  the  north  side  of  the  rocks  near  the  round  battery.  Two  of -these 
distressed  looking  objects  were  fished  out  of  the  wreck.  From  the  whole 
of  them  being  so  much  disfigured,  it  was  impossible  to  recognize  any 
known  feature  to  us,  or  even  to  distinguish  an  officer  from  a  seaman. 
•  who  accompanied  us,  informed  me  that  he  saw  six  others  yester- 
day, on  the  shore  to  the  southward,  which  were  supposed  to  have  come 
from  the  same  vessel.  He  also  informed  me  that  an  American  six-oared 
boat,  with  one  man  in  her,  was  found  drifted  on  the  beach  to  the  west- 
ward." 

On  the  subject  of  Com.  Treble's  impressions  of  the  fate  of  the  Intre- 
pid, it  may  be  well  to  say,  that  the  Constitution  left  Tripoli  soon  after  the 
ketch  was  blown  up,  and  that  his  letter  was  dated  at  Malta,  September 
18th.  Owing  to  this  circumstance,  he  must  necessarily  have  been  igno- 
rant of  facts  that  were  subsequently  ascertained. 


74  &  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

causes  the  seaman  and  soldier,  to  hold  his  life  in  his  hand, 
when  the  honour  or  interest  of  his  country  demands  the 
sacrifice.  The  name  of  Somers  has  passed  into  a  battle- 
cry,  in  the  American  marine,  while  those  of  Wadsworth 
and  Israel  are  associated  with  all  that  can  ennoble  intrepi- 
dity, coolness  and  daring. 

The  war,  in  one  sense,  terminated  with  this  scene  of  sub- 
lime destruction.  Com.  Treble  had  consumed  so  much  of 
his  powder,  in  the  previous  attacks,  that  it  was  no  longer 
in  his  power  to  cannonade;  and  the  season  was  fast  getting 
to  be  dangerous  to  remain  on  that  exposed  coast.  The  guns, 
mortars,  shells,  &c.,  were  taken  out  of  the  small  vessels,  on 
account  of  the  appearance  of  the  weather,  the  day  after 
the  loss  of  the  Intrepid,  and  on  the  7th,  the  John  Adams, 
Siren,  Nautilus,  Enterprise  and  Scourge,  were  directed  to 
take  the  bombards  and  gun-boats  in  tow,  and  to  proceed  to 
Syracuse;  while  the  Constitution,  with  the  Argus  and  Vixen 
in  company,  maintained  the  blockade.  It  is  not  known  that 
another  shot  was  fired  at  Tripoli. 

Three  days  later,  or  on  the  10th  of  September,  1804,  the 
President  44,  wearing  the  broad  pennant  of  Com.  Barron, 
hove  in  sight,  with  the  Constellation  38,  Capt.  Campbell,  in 
company,  when  the  command  was  regularly  transferred  to 
the  former  officer.  On  the  12th,  two  sail  were  cut  off, 
while  attempting  to  enter  Tripoli,  loaded  with  wheat.  On 
the  17th,  the  Constitution  reached  Malta,  with  the  two 
prizes ;  and  subsequently,  Com.  Preble  went  to  Syracuse  in 
the  Argus.  At  a  later  day,  he  came  home  in  the  John  Ad- 
ams, where  he  arrived  on  the  26lh  of  February,  1805.  In 
the  mean  time,  Capt.  Decatur  proceeded  to  Malta  and  took 
command  of  the  Constitution,  which  was  the  first  frigate 
this  celebrated  officer  ever  had  under  his  orders. 

The  country  fully  appreciated  the  services  of  Com.  Pre- 
ble. He  had  united  caution  and  daring  in  a  way  to  denote 
the  highest  military  qualities;  and  his  success,  in  general, 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  75 

en  in  proportion.  The  attack  of  the  Intrepid,  the 
only  material  failure  in  any  of  his  enterprises,  was  well  ar- 
ranged, and  had  it  succeeded,  it  would  probably  have  pro-, 
duced  peace  in  twenty-four  hours.  As  it  was,  the  bashaw  was 
well  enough  disposed  to  treat,  though  he  seems  to  have  en- 
tered into  some  calculations  in  the  way  of  money,  that  in- 
duced him  to  hope  the  Americans  would  still  reduce  their 
policy  to  the  level  of  his  own,  and  prefer  paying  ransom,  to 
maintaining  cruisers  so  far  from  home.  Com.  Preble,  and 
all  the  officers  and  men  under  his  orders,  received  the 
thanks  of  congress,  and  a  gold  medal  was  bestowed  on  the 
former.  By  the  same  resolution,  congress  expressed  the 
sympathy  of  the  nation,  in  behalf  of  the  relatives  of  Capt. 
Richard  Somers,*  Lieuts.  Henry  Wadsworth,  James  Deca- 

*  Very  little  is  known  of  Capt.  Somers,  beyond  his  professional  career. 
He  was  born  in  Cape  May  county,  New  Jersey;  and  was  the  son  of  Col. 
Somers,  an  officer  of  the  Revolution.  He  went  early  to  sea,  and  had  com- 
manded a  small  vessel,  even  previously  to  the  formation  of  the  navy  in 
1798.  His  first  cruise  was  in  the  United  States,  under  Com.  Barry  ;  and 
he  appears  early  to  have  attracted  attention  by  his  seamanship,  zeal  and 
chivalry.  Decatur  was  his  messmate,  and  both  having  been  at  sea  pre- 
viously to  joining1  the  navy,  they  were  made  lieutenants  at  the  same  time, 
the  commission  of  Somers  having  been  dated  the  3d,  and  that  of  his  friend 
on  the  3d  of  June,  1799.  The  reader  will  better  understand  the  tie  which 
united  the  young  commanders  that  served  under  Preble  before  Tripoli, 
when  he  finds  that  Stewart  was  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  United  States  at 
this  time,  Somers  the  third,  and  Deeatur  the  fourth.  After  the  French 
war,  Mr.  Somers  served  in  the  Boston  28,  Capt.  M'Niell,  and  made  the 
singular  cruise  to  which  there  has  been  allusion  in  the  text.  He  was  the 
officer  first  appointed  to  command  the  Nautilus  when  she  was  launched, 
and  continued  in  that  station  until  the  time  of  his  death. 

Capt.  Somers  was  a  warm-hearted  friend,  amiable  and  mild  in  his  ordi- 
nary associations,  a  trained  seaman,  and  a  good  officer.  His  loss  was  re- 
gretted by  all  who  knew  him,  and,  for  a  time,  it  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
little  service  of  which  he  was  so  conspicuous  and  favourite  a  member. 
There  existed  a  close  intimacy  between  Decatur  and  Somers,  though  in 
many  respects,  their  characters  were  unlike.  In  a  chivalrous  love  of  en- 
terprise, a  perfect  disregard  of  danger,  and  in  devotion  to  the  honour  of 


76  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

tur,  James  R.  Caldwell,  and  Joseph  Israel,  and  Mr.  John 
Sword  Dorsey,  midshipman ;  the  officers  killed  off  Tripoli. 

the  flag,  however,  they  had  but  one  heart;  and  a  generous  emulation  urg- 
ed both  to  renewed  exertions,  in  the  peculiar  stations  in  which  they  had 
been  placed  by  their  commander. 

While  serving  on  the  Mediterranean  station,  Mr.  Somers,  accompanied 
by  two  other  officers,  was  walking  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  Syracuse,  when  five  Sicilian  soldiers  made  an  assault  on  them 
with  drawn  swords,  the  intention  being  to  rob.  There  was  one  dirk 
among  the  Americans,  and  no  other  arms.  The  officer  who  had  this  wea- 
pon, soon  disposed  of  his  assailant,  but  Mr.  Somers  was  compelled  to 
seize  the  sword  of  the  soldier  who  attacked  him,  and  to  close.  In  doing 
so,  he  was  badly  wounded  in  the  hand,  but  he  succeeded  in  disarming 
the  assassin,  plunged  the  weapon  into  his  body,  when  the  other  three  Si- 
cilians fled.  The  two  dead  bodies  were  carried  into  the  town  and  recog- 
nized, but  their  comrades  were  never  discovered. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


77 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE  squadron  left  in  the  Mediterranean,  under  the  orders 
of  Com.  Barren,  after  the  departure  of  Com.  Preble,  was 
much  the  strongest  force  that  the  country  had  then  as- 
sembled in  that  sea.  It  was,  indeed,  the  strongest  force 
that  had  ever  been  collected  under  the  orders  of  any  single 
officer  beneath  the  American  flag ;  and  small  as  it  was,  in 
efficiency  it  was  probably  more  than  equal  to  all  the  active 
vessels  employed  at  any  one  period  of  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Keeping  this  fact  in  view,  we  look  back  with  sur- 
prise, at  what  might  then  be  deemed  the  greatest  effort  of  a 
country  that  possessed  1,000,000  tons  of  shipping  in  its  mer- 
cantile marine,  and  which,  with  diminished  duties,  derived 
an  income  of  $11,098,565,  from  its  imports  alone.  The 
force  in  question,  consisted  of  the  following  vessels,  viz. 


President  44, 

Constitution  44, 

Congress  38, 

Constellation  38, 

Essex  32, 

Siren  16, 

Argus  16, 

Vixen  12, 

Enterprise  12, 

Nautilus  12, 
VOL.  II.— 7 


Capt.  Cox;  Com.  Barron. 

Capt.  Decatur. 

Capt.  Rodgers. 

Capt.  Campbell. 

Capt.  J.  Barron. 

Capt.  Stewart. 

Capt.  Hull. 

Capt.  Smith. 

Lieut.  Com.  Robinson. 

Lieut.  Com.  Dent. 


78  NAVAL  HISTORY.        , 

The  Scourge  14,  went  home  about  this  time,  and  was 
sold  out  of  service,  and  the  bombards  and  gun-boats  bor- 
rowed from  Naples,  as  a  matter  of  course,  were  returned 
to  that  government.  The  Americans,  however,  retained 
the  two  prizes  taken  from  the  Tripolitans.  The  John  Ad- 
ams 28,  Capt.  Chauncey,  also  returned  to  the  station,  shortly 
after  landing  Com.  Preble  in  New  York ;  and  two  vessels 
were  purchased,  one  at  Trieste,  and  the  other  at  Malta,  to 
be  converted  into  bombards.  They  were  never  used  in 
that  capacity,  however,  two  arriving  from  America  before 
the  season  for  action  had  returned.  The  vessel  purchased 
at  Malta,  was  .converted  into  a  sloop,  armed  and  manned, 
and  put  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Evans.  She  was 
called  the  Hornet. 

The  long  delay  in  the  appearance  of  the  reinforcement, 
appears  to  have  been  owing  to  some  of  those  intrigues 
among  the  Barbary  powers,  which  it  has  been  found,  has 
always  induced  them  to  co-operate  in  this,  if  in  no  other 
manner,  whenever  there  was  a  war  with  the  Christians. 
Com.  Barren  was  met  at  the  Straits  by  rumours  of  the  bad 
disposition  of  the  Emperor  of  Morocco,  and  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  employ  part  of  his  force  in  that  quarter,  in  order  to 
overawe  the  Moors.  When  he  went  aloft,  the  Essex  was 
left  below,  and  a  cruiser  or  two  appears  to  have  been  kept 
constantly  on  the  lower  station,  throughout  the  winter. 

The  blockade  of  Tripoli  was  maintained  by  different  ves- 
sels, during  the  bad  season  of  1804-5;  but  no  attack  was 
attempted,  although  preparations  were  made  to  renew  the 
war  in  the  spring.  One  of  the  first  measures  of  Com.  Pre- 
ble, on  reaching  America,  was  to  urge  upon  the  govern- 
ment the  necessity -of  building  suitable  bomb-ketches,  and  a 
few  gun-boats  fitted  to  cannonade  a  place  like  Tripoli.  His 
advice  was  followed,  the  vessels  being  immediately  laid 
down,  but  it  being  found  impossible  to  have  the  ketches 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  79 

ready  in  time,  the  two  vessels  before  mentioned,  were  pur- 
chased, strengthened,  and  equipped  as  bombards. 

In  November,  Capt.  Rodgers,  as  the  senior  officer,  was 
put  in  command  of  the  Constitution,  while  Capt.  Decatur 
was  transferred  to  the  Congress.  The  winter  and  spring 
passed  in  this  manner,  the  blockade  being  maintained  with 
vigour,  most  of  the  time,  though  no  event  worthy  of  note, 
occurred  off  the  port.  While  matters  remained  in  this  state 
with  the  ships,  a  movement  by  land,  was  in  the  course  of 
execution,  that  must  now  be  recorded,  as  it  is  intimately 
connected  with  the  history  of  the  war. 

It  has  been  said  already,  that  Jussuf  Caramalli,  the  reign- 
ing pacha,  or  bashaw  of  Tripoli,  was  a  usurper,  having  de- 
posed his  elder  brother  Hamet,  in  order  to  obtain  the  throne. 
The  latter  had  escaped  from  the  regency,  and  after  passing  a 
wandering  life,  he  had  taken  refuge  among  the  Mamelukes 
of  Egypt.  It  had  often  been  suggested  to  the  American 
agents,  that  the  deposed  prince  might  be  made  useful  in 
carrying  on  the  war  against  the  usurper,  and  at  different 
times,  several  projects  had  been  entertained  to  that  effect, 
though  never  with  any  results.  At  length,  Mr.  Eaton,  the 
consul  at  Algiers,  who  had  been  a  captain  in  the  army,  in- 
terested himself  in  the  enterprise;  and  coming  to  America, 
he  so  far  prevailed  on  the  government  to  lend  itself  to  his 
views,  as  to  obtain  a  species  of  indirect  support.  Com.  ' 
Barron  was  directed  to  co-operate  with  Mr.  Eaton,  as  far 
as  he  might  deem  it  discreet. 

When  the  new  squadron  arrived  out,  it  was  accordingly 
ascertained  where  the  ex-bashaw  was  to  be  found,  and  Mr. 
Eaton  at  once  commenced  his  operations.  Two  or  three 
days  after  Com.  Barron  had  assumed  the  command  before 
Tripoli,  he  sent  the  Argus  16,  Capt.  Hull,  with  that  gentle- 
man to  Alexandria,  where  he  arrived  on  the  26th  of  No- 
vember. On  the  29th,  Mr.  Eaton,  accompanied  by  Lieut. 
O'Bannon,  of  the  marines,  and  Messrs.  Mann  and  Daniclson, 


80  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

two  midshipmen  of  the  squadron,  proceeded  to  Rosetta,  and 
thence  to  Cairo.  The  viceroy  of  Egypt  received  them  with 
favour,  and  permission  was  obtained  for  the  prince  of  Tri- 
poli to  pass  out  of  the  country  unmolested,  though  he  had 
been  fighting  against  the  government,  with  the  discontented 
Mamelukes. 

As  soon  as  Hamet  Caramalli  received  the  proposals  of 
Mr.  Eaton,  he  separated  himself  from  the  Mamelukes,  at- 
tended by  about  forty  followers,  and  repaired  to  a  point 
twelve  leagues  to  the  westward  of  the  old  port  of  Alexan- 
dria. Here  he  was  soon  joined  by  Mr.  Eaton,  at  the  head 
of  a  small  troop  of  adventurers,  whom  he  had  obtained  in 
Egypt.  This  party  was  composed  of  all  nations,  though 
Mr.  Eaton  expressed  his  belief,  at  the  time,  that,  had  he 
possessed  the  means  of  subsistence,  he  might  have  marched 
a  body  of  30,000  men  against  Tripoli,  the  reigning  bashaw 
having  forced  so  many  of  his  subjects  into  banishment. 
Soon  after  the  junction  agreed  upon,  Mr.  Eaton,  who  now 
assumed  the  title  of  general,  marched  in  the  direction  of 
Derne,  taking  the  route  across  the  Desert  of  Barca.  This 
was  early  in  1805. 

The  Argus  had  returned  to  Malta  for  orders  and  stores, 
and  on  the  2d  of  April,  she  re-appeared  off  Bomba,  with  the 
Hornet  10,  Lieut.  Com.  Evans,  in  company.  Cruising  on 
this  coast  a  few  days,  without  obtaining  any  intelligence  of 
Gen.  Eaton  and  the  bashaw,  Capt.  Hull  steered  to  the  west- 
ward, and,  a  few  leagues  to  the  eastward  of  Derne,  he  fell 
in  with  the  Nautilus,  Lieut.  Com.  Dent.  On  communicating 
with  this  vessel,  which  was  lying  close  in  with  the  shore, 
Capt.  Hull  ascertained  that  the  expedition  was  on  the  coast, 
and  that  it  waited  only  for  the  arms  and  supplies  that  had 
been  brought,  to  attack  Derne,  from  which  town  it  was  but 
a  league  distant.  A  field-piece  was  landed,  together  with 
some  stores  and  muskets,  and  a  few  marines  appear  to  have 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  81 

been  put  under  the  orders  of  Mr.  O'Bannon,  of  the  corps, 
when  the  vessels  took  their  stations  to  aid  in  the  attack. 

It  was  2,  P.  M.,  on  the  27th  of  April,  1805,  that  this  as- 
sault, so  novel  for  Americans  to  be  engaged  in,  in  the  other 
hemisphere,  was  commenced.  The  Hornet,  Lieut.  Com. 
Evans,  having  run  close  in,  and  anchored  with  springs  on 
her  cables,  within  pistol-shot  of  a  battery  of  eight  guns, 
opened  her  fire.  The  Nautilus  lay  at  a  little  distance  to  the 
eastward,  and  the  Argus  still  further  in  the  same  direction, 
the  two  latter  firing  on  the  town  and  battery.  In  about  an 
hour,  the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  work,  when  all  the 
vessels  directed  their  guns  at  the  beach,  to  clear  the  way 
for  the  advance  of  the  party  on  shore.  The  enemy  made 
an  irregular,  but  spirited  defence,  keeping  up  a  heavy  fire 
of  musketry,  as  the  assailants  advanced,  from  behind  houses 
and  walls.  At  half  past  3,  however,  Lieut.  O'Bannon  and 
Mr.  Mann  stormed  the  principal  work,  hauling  down  the 
Tripolitan  ensign,  and,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the 
country,  hoisting  that  of  the  republic  on  a  fortress  of  the  old 
world.  The  enemy  were  driven  out  of  this  \vork  with  so 
much  precipitation,  that  they  left  its  guns  loaded,  and  even 
primed.  The  cannon  were  immediately  turned  upon  the 
town,  and  Hamet  Caramalli  having  made  a  lodgement  on 
the  other  side,  so  as  to  bring  the  enemy  between  two  fires, 
the  place  submitted.  At  4  o'clock,  the  boats  of  the  vessels 
landed  with  ammunition  for  the  guns,  and  to  bring  ofT  the 
wounded,  Derne  being  completely  in  possession  of  the  as- 
sailants. 

In  this  affair,  only  14  of  the  assailants  were  killed  and 
wounded,  Gen.  Eaton  being  among  the  latter.  The  attack 
was  made  by  about  1200  men,  while  the  place  was  sup- 
posed to  be  defended  by  three  or  four  thousand.  One  or 
two  attempts  were  made  by  the  Tripolitans,  tp  regain  pos- 
session, but  they  were  easily  repulsed,  arid,  on  one  occa- 
sion, with  some  loss.  The  deposed  bashaw  remained  in 

7* 


82  NAVAL  HISTORr. 

possession  of  the  town,  and  his  authority  was  partially  re- 
cognized in  the  province.  Gen.  Eaton  now  earnestly  press- 
ed Com.  Barron  for  further  supplies  and  reinforcements, 
with  a  view  to  march  on  Tripoli ;  but  they  were  denied,  on 
the  ground  that  Hamet  Caramalli  was  put  in  possession  of 
the  second  province  of  the  regency,  and  if  he  had  the  influ- 
ence that  he  pretended  to,  he  ought  to  be  able  to  effect 
his  object  by  means  of  the  ordinary  co-operation  of  the 
squadron. 

This  decision  of  Com.  Barron  was  the  subject  of  much 
political  and  military  criticism  at  the  time,  that  officer  hav- 
ing been  censured  for  not  sustaining  a  successful  partisan, 
who  certainly  promised  to  terminate  the  war  in  a  manner 
much  beyond  the  most  sanguine  hopes  of  the  country.  It  is 
not  easy  to  decide  on  the  merits  or  demerits  of  measures  of 
this  nature,  without  being  in  possession  of  all  the  distinctive 
facts  that  must  govern  every  enterprise,  and  it  is  proper  to 
abstain  from  venturing  an  opinion,  that  might  not  be  en- 
tertained at  all,  when  intimately  acquainted  with  circum- 
stances. The  nature  of  the  fighting  at  Derne  shows  that 
little  had  as  yet  been  overcome,  and,  as  the  force  of  the 
reigning  bashaw  was  known  to  be  not  less  than  20,000  men, 
in  some  measure  inured  fo  war,  it  would  have  been  the 
height  of  imprudence  to  have  advanced  against  the  capital, 
at  the  head  of  the  insignificant  and  ill-organized  force  that 
was  collected  at  Derne.  On  the  other  hand,  did  it  appear, 
that,  by  merely  supplying  arms  and  ammunition,  with  hos- 
pital stores  and  other  military  supplies,  a  column  of  force 
could  have  been  marched  in  front  of  Tripoli,  with  reasona- 
ble hopes  of  obtaining  a  support  from  the  population,  there 
would  have  been  an  error  in  judgment  in  denying  the  re- 
quest. Whatever  may  have  been  the  true  character  of  the 
decision  taken,  however,  Com.  Barron  would  seem  to  have 
had  but  little  concern  with  it,  as  that  excellent  officer  and 
highly  respectable  gentleman  was  in  extreme  ill  health  at 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


83 


the  time,  with  but  faint  hopes  of  recovery,  and  on  the  22d 
of  May,  he  formally  transferred  the  command  of  the  squad- 
ron in  the  Mediterranean,  as  well  as  of  the  vessels  expected, 
to  Capt.  John  Rodgers,  the  officer  next  in  rank  to  himself. 
The  entire  force,  under  this  new  disposition,  when  the  ves- 
sels known  to  be  about  to  sail  should  arrive,  would  be  as 

follows : 

•      =.-     •  . 


Bombs 


Gun-boats^ 


Constitution 

44, 

Com.  Rodgers. 

President 

44, 

Capt.  Cox. 

Constellation 

38, 

Capt.  Campbell. 

Congress 

38, 

Capt.  Decatur. 

Essex 

32, 

Capt.  J.  Barren. 

John  Adams 

28, 

Capt.  Chauncey. 

Siren 

16, 

Capt.  Stewart. 

Argus 

16, 

Capt.  Hull. 

Vixen 

12, 

Capt.  Smith. 

Nautilus 

12, 

Lieut.  Com.  Dent. 

Enterprise 

12, 

Lieut.  Com.  Robinson 

Hornet 

12, 

Lieut.  Com.  Evans. 

(  Vengeance, 

Lieut.  Lewis. 

[  Spitfire, 

Lieut.  M'Niell. 

"No.    2, 

1  gun, 

Lieut.  Izard. 

3, 

2     " 

Lieut.  Maxwell. 

4, 

2     « 

Lieut.  J.  D.  Henley. 

5, 

2     « 

Lieut.  Harrison. 

6, 

2     " 

Lieut.  Lawrence. 

8, 

2     " 

Lieut.  Harraden. 

9, 

2     « 

Lieut.  Elbert. 

10, 

2     « 

Lieut.  Carter. 

11, 

1     " 

I         12, 

1     " 



The  bombards  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  list,  were  the 
two  vessels  purchased  in  America  and  fitted  for  the  pur- 
pose; and  gun-boats  Nos./2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  8,  9,  and  10,  were 


84  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

large  of  their  class,  having  been  regularly  and  carefully 
constructed  at  home.  They  were  long,  low,  narrow  ves- 
sels, principally  sloop-rigged,  and  most  of  them  mounted 
two  heavy  thirty-two-pounders,  one  at  each  end.  As  they 
were  ready  to  sail  in  the  mild  season,  it  was  thought  by  put- 
ting their  guns  below,  they  might  be  carried  across  the 
Atlantic,  although  their  gunwales,  when  the  vessels  were 
ready  for  service,  were  scarcely  two  feet  from  the  water. 
They  sailed  at  different  times,  and  all  arrived  safely  but  one. 
No.  7,  Lieut.  Ogilvie,  sailed  May  14, 1805,  but  springing  her 
mast,  she  returned  to  New-York  to  refit.  She  sailed  a  se- 
cond time,  June  the  20th,  and  was  never  heard  of  after- 
wards. No.  7  made  the  fourth  American  cruiser  that  had 
thus  disappeared  within  thirty  years.*  It  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark, that  the  remaining  eight  boats'  arrived  at  Syracuse 
within  forty-eight  hours  of  each  other.  Lieut.  James  Law- 
rence took  No.  6  to  the  Mediterranean,  arriving  safely. 
When  near  the  Western  Islands,  he  fell  in  with  the  British 
frigate  Lapwing  28,  Capt.  Upton,  which  ran  for  him,  under 
the  impression  that  the  gun-boat  was  some  wrecked  mari- 
ners on  a  raft,  there  being  a  great  show  of  canvass,  and  ap- 
parently no  hull.  On  the  12th  of  June,  No.  7  fell  in  with  the 
fleet  of  Admiral  Collingwood,  off  Cadiz,  and  while  Mr.  Law- 
rence was  on  board  one  of  the  British  ships,  a  boat  was  sent 
and  took  three  men  out  of  No.  7,  under  the  pretence  that  they 
were  Englishmen.  On  his  return  to  his  own  vessel,  Mr. 
Lawrence  hauled  down  his  ensign,  but  no  notice  was  taken 
of  the  proceeding  by  the  British.  It  is  a  fitting  commentary 
on  this  transaction,  that,  in  the  published  letters  of  Lord 
Collingwood,  where  he  speaks  of  the  impressment  of  Ameri- 
cans, he  says  that  England  would  not  submit  to  such  an 
aggression  for  an  hour!  Shortly  after  assuming  the  com- 
mand, Com.  Rodgers  transferred  Capt.  J.  Barron  from  the 

*  Saratoga  16,  1'Insurgente  36,  Pickering  14,  and  No.  7. 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  85 

Essex  32  to  the  President  44,  giving  the  former  ship  to 
Capt.  Cox,  who  was  only  a  master  and  commander. 

Negotiations  for  peace  now  commenced  in  earnest,  Mr. 
Lear  having  arrived  off  Tripoli,  for  that  purpose,  in  the 
Essex,  Capt.  Barren.  After  the  usual  intrigues,  delays  and 
prevarications,  a  treaty  was  signed  on  the  3d  of  June  1805. 
By  this  treaty/  no  tribute  was  to  be  paid  in  future,  but 
$60,000  were  given  by  America,  for  the  ransom  of  the  re- 
maining prisoners,  after  exchanging  the  Tripolitans  in  her 
power,  man  for  man. 

It  is  not  easy  to  express  approbation  of  the  terms  of  this 
treaty  of  peace.  America  had  been  contending  for  the 
usages  of  civilization,  and  the  rights  of  nations,  and  the 
ransom  was  a  direct  abandonment  of  both.  When  we  re- 
member the  force  that  was  about  to  assemble  before  Tripoli, 
the  season  of  the  year,  the  fact  that  Derne  was  occupied  by 
Hamet  Caramalli,  and  the  disposition  that  so  generally 
prevailed  in  the  squadron  to  renew  the  attacks  on  the  ene- 
my, we  find  it  difficult  to  believe  that  better  terms  might 
not  have  been  obtained.  How  far  the  course  of  the  negotia- 
tor was  compelled  by  his  instructions,  we  have  no  means  of 
saying,  but  the  treaty  was  approved  and  ratified.  While 
many  condemned  it  as  unwise,  all,  however,  rejoiced  that 
it  was  the  means  of  restoring  so  many  brave  men  to  their 
country.  It  is  no  more  than  liberal,  moreover,  to  believe 
that  the  situation  of  these  unfortunate  officers  and  men,  had 
a  deep  influence  in  inducing  the  government  to  forego  ab- 
stract considerations,  with  a  view  to  their  relief. 

Thus  terminated  the  war  with  Tripoli,  after  an  existence 
of  four  years.  It  is  probable  that  the  United  States  would 
have  retained  in  service  some  officers,  and  would  have  kept 
up  a  small  force,  had  not  this  contest  occurred,  but  its  in- 
fluence on  the  fortunes  and  character  of  the  navy  is  in- 
calculable. It  saved  the  first,  in  a  degree  at  least,  and  it 
may  be  said  to  have  formed  the  last.  Perhaps  no  service, 


86  KAVAL  HISTORY. 

either  in  the  way  of  ships  or  officers,  ever  had  so  large  a 
proportion  of  what  was  excellent  in  it,  and  so  small  a  pro- 
portion of  that  which  was  defective,  as  the  navy  of  the ' 
United  States,  the  day  peace  was  signed  with  Tripoli.  A 
stern  discipline,  a  high  moral  tone,  rare  models  in  seaman- 
ship, active  warfare,  the  means  of  comparison,  and  a  spirit 
of  emulation  that  is  certain  to  carry  the  national  character 
to  the  highest  level,  whenever  the  national  energies  can  be 
permitted  to  exhibit  themselves,  had  conspired  to  produce 
this  end.  The  petulant  and  always  questionable  proofs  of 
private  rencontres,  which  are  so  apt  to  sully  the  renown  of 
infant  services,  had  disappeared  in  a  chivalry  that  seemed 
to  have  forgotten  all  but  the  country  and  her  honour.  Not 
a  duel  was  fought  during  the  command  of  Preble;  the 
brave  men  assembled  under  his  orders,  regarded  each  other 
as  brothers,  and  the  honour  of  one  appeared  to  be  connect- 
ed with  the  honour  of  all.  An  admirable  esprit  de  corps 
was  created,  and  the  button,  which  bore  the  emblem  of  the 
common  profession,  was  deemed  a  signal  of  the  presence 
of  a  friend.  Men  had  stood  by  each  other,  in  moments  of 
severe  trial,  and  even  the  body  of  the  nation,  which  is  so 
little  addicted  to  the  sentimental,  or  the  abstract,  began  to 
regard  the  flag  with  open  pride.  Cjn  a  word,  the  tone,  dis- 
cipline, pride,  emulation  and  spirit,  that  the  navy  derived 
from  this  remote  and,  in  one  sense,  unimportant  war,  pre- 
pared it  for  another  and  a  severer  trial  that  was  at  hanc£> 
The  impression  produced  in  the  Mediterranean-  was  also 
favourable,  and  the,  head  of  the  Romish  church  is  said  to 
have  publicly  declared^  that  America  had  done  more  for 
Christendom,  against  the  barbarians,  than  all  the  powers  of 
Europe  united. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  87 


CHAPTER  VII. 


PEACE  was  no  sooner  made  with  Tripoli,  than  Com. 
Rodgers  gave  his  attention  to  Tunis,  with  which  regency 
there  was  now  every  prospect  of  a  speedy  war.  In  April, 
while  blockading,  the  Constitution  had  captured  a  xebec 
belonging  to  the  Bey,  which,  in  company  with  two  prizes, 
was  endeavouring  to  get  into  Tripoli.  These  vessels  had 
been  demanded,  and  the  consul  had  been  notified  that  hos- 
tilities would  immediately  follow  a  refusal.  Mr.  Davis,  who 
was  then  at  Tunis,  informed  the  Bey  that  the  captured  ves- 
'sels  could  not  be  released,  and  the  whole  matter  was  refer- 
red to  the  naval  officer  in  command.  A  correspondence 
ensued,  and  Com.  Rodgers  felt  himself,  not  only  compelled, 
but,  without  forgetting  prudence,  able  to  tell  the  government 
of  Tunis,  that  it  was  his  settled  intention  to  maintain  the 
rights  of  his  flag,  and  the  law  of  nations. 

When  this  reply  was  received  at  Tunis,  the  Bey,  who 
was  not  yet  accustomed  to  consider  America  a  nation  of 
importance,  and  who  appeared  to  think  that  his  anger  must 
be  a  source  of  serious  apprehension  to  her  people,  used  the 
loftiest  language,  expressly  announcing  an  intention  to  com- 
mence hostilities  unless  the  vessels  were  instantly  restored. 
But  times  had  changed.  The  temporary  control  of  events 
had  been  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  timid  politicians  in 
another  hemisphere,  and  had  passed  into  those  of  men  who 
desired  nothing  better  than  to  teach  barbarians  justice. 


88  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

The  American  merchant  ships  had  ceased  to  apprehend 
capture,  and  the  idea,  which  had  just  before  been  so  terrible, 
that  of  a  rover's  getting  into  the  Atlantic,  appears  to  have 
been  forgotten.  In  short,  a  very  moderate  application  of 
that  dormant  power,  which,  when  properly  applied,  can  at 
any  time  give  the  republic  a  commanding  influence  in  the 
general  concerns  of  the  world,  had  at  least  disposed  of  all 
questions  of  this  nature,  that  were  connected  with  states  as  in- 
significant as  those  of  Barbary.  The  Bey  of  Tunis,  moreover, 
had  selected  a  most  unfortunate  moment  for  his  bravado, 
the  force  under  Com.  Rodgers  being,  at  the  time,  nearly  all 
in  the  Mediterranean.  The  gun  boats  had  arrived,  and  the 
ketches  were  hourly  expected.  In  .short,  the  menace  was 
most  inopportunely  made  for  the  Bey,  since  it  was  uttered 
to  those,  who  would  not  have  regretted  an  attempt  to  put  it 
in  execution. 

The.  business  at  Tripoli  was  no  sooner  completed,  there- 
fore, than  Com.  Rodgers  sailed  with  thirteen  vessels,  gun- 
boats included,  and  anchored  in  Tunis  Bay  on  the  1st  of 
August.  As  soon  as  the  consul  had  repaired  on  board  and 
communicated  the  state  of  things  in  the  regency,  a  council 
of  war  was  called.  The  result  was  a  letter  to  the  Bey,  de- 
manding to  know  if  a  declaration  he  had  made  to  the  con- 
sul, in  which  he  had  said  that  the  appearance  of  the  Amer- 
ican squadron  off  his  port  would  be  considered  as  the 
commencement  of  hostilities,  was  to  be  taken  literally,  or 
not.  In  this  letter  the  Bey  was  given  to  understand,  in  the 
plainest  manner,  that  hostilities  would  commence  on  the 
part  of  the  Americans,  within  thirty-six  hours,  did  he  de- 
cline answering,  or  neglect  the  application. 

It  may  be  useful  to  the  reader,  if  we  pause  a  moment, 
and  review  the  changes  that  four  short  years  had  produced 
in  the  tone  of  the  American  agents.  In  1801,  after  capturing 
a  Tripolitan  rover,  Com.  Dale  had  been  compelled  to  send 
her  into  her  own  port,  through  the  doubts  and  misgivings 


ffAVAL  HISTORY.  89 

of  a  feeble  and  temporizing  policy  at  home.  The  adminis- 
tration had  used  the  cry  of  economy  as  a  means  of  defeat- 
ing its  adversaries,  and,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  this  appeal 
had  been  made  without  a  just  discrimination  between  that 
liberal  saving,  which  anticipates  future  waste  by  present 
expenditure,  and  that  which  can  be  no  better  described  than 
by  the  homely  axiom  "  of  penny  wise  and  pound  foolish." 
But  the  force  of  things,  always  a  salutary  corrective  of  the 
errors  of  men,  had  compelled  an  armament,  and  no  better 
illustration  of  the  expediency  of  being  prepared  for  war,  need 
be  required  than -is  to  be  found  in  the  facts  of  this  case. 

The  Bey,  accustomed  to  regard  the  Americans  as  tribu- 
taries, had  been  seeking  a  cause  for  war,  when  he*  was 
suddenly  met  by  this  high  lone  on  the  part  of  those  whom 
he  had  hitherto  found  so  much  disposed  to  temporize.  At 
first  he  appeared  to  place  no  faith  in  the  demonstration,  and 
the  required  answer  was  not  immediately  sent.  Com. 
Rodgers,  in  consequence,  directed  Capt.  Decatur  to  land,  to 
demand  an  audience  of  the  Bey,  and  to  obtain  an  unequivo- 
cal solution  of  the  question  of  peace  or  war. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Bey  regarded  this  mission  as  one 
of  a  doubtful  nature,  also,  for  he  refused  to  receive  Capt. 
Decatur  in  the  character  in  which  he  had  been  sent.  That 
spirited  officer,  little  accustomed  to  temporizing,  declined 
being  admitted  in  any  other.  As  soon  as  the  intentions  of  both 
parties  had  been  explained,  Capt.  Decatur  returned  on  board, 
when  "  the  royal  breast"  of  the  Bey  "  appeared  to  be  panic 
struck."  A  letter  was  sent  to  the  commodore,  signed  by 
the  pacha  himself,  in  which  he  expressed  a  desire  to  treat, 
and  using  the  most  pacific  languag;e.  Shortly  after  he  an- 
nounced a  wish  to  send  a  minister  to  Washington.  This 
moderated  tone  put  an  end  to  the  threatened  hostilities,  and 
after  a  negotiation  that  lasted  nearly  a  month,  the  affair  was 
arranged  with  the  regency,  to  the  satisfaction  of  one  of  the 
parties  at  least.  The  xebec  and  her  prizes  were  not  given 

VOL.  II.— 8 


90  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

up.  In  September,  a  Tunisian  Ambassador  embarked  in  the 
Congress  38,  Capt.  Decatur,  and  in  due  time,  he  was  land- 
ed in  Washington. 

Com.  Rodgers  remained  in  Tunis  Bay  more  than  a  month, 
literally  negotiating  under  the  muzzles  of  his  guns,  and  the 
result  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  course  he  had  taken.  The 
navy,  the  ablest  of  all  negotiators  in  such  matters,  had  com- 
pletely reversed  the  ancient  order  of  things,  for,  instead  of 
an  American  agent's  being  compelled  to  solicit  the  restora- 
tion of  prizes,  illegally  taken,  in  Africa,  an  African  agent 
was  now  soliciting  the  restoration  of  prizes  legally  captured, 
in  America.  At  a  later  day,  the  xebec  and  her  consorts 
were  given  up,  as  of  no  moment;  but  when  the  Tunisian  min- 
ister added  a  demand  for  tribute,  agreeably  to  former  usage, 
he  met  with  an  explicit  denial.  After  a  short  residence, 
he  returned  to  his  master  with  the  latter  answer,  but  the  Bey 
did  not  see  fit  to  take  any  steps  in  consequence.  The  im- 
pression made  by  the  attacks  on  Tripoli,  and  of  the  appear- 
ance of  the  American  squadron,  before  his  own  town,  would 
seem  to  have  been  lasting. 

After  the  settlement  of  the  dispute  with  Tunis,  the  vessels 
in  the  Mediterranean  were  gradually  reduced,  though  it  was 
still  deemed  necessary  to  keep  a  small  squadron  in  that  sea. 
The  government  also  became  better  apprised  of  the  nature 
of  the  force  that  was  required,  in  carrying  on  a  war  with 
the  Barbary  states,  and  several  new  vessels  were  put  into 
the  water  about  this  time,  among  which  were  two  regularly 
constructed  bombards,  the  Etna  and  the  Vesuvius.  Two 
sloops  of  war,  of  the  most  approved  models,  were  also 
built,  and  became  active  cruisers  on  the  peace  establish- 
ment. These  vessels  were  the  Wasp  18,  and  the  Hornet  18, 
the  former  being  a  ship,  and  the  latter  a  brig.  These  two 
beautiful  and  efficient  sloops,  had  no  gun-decks,  poops,  or 
top-gallant  forecastles,  but  were  constructed  after  the  de- 
signs of  the  French,  and  they  had  armaments  of  16  thirty- 
two  pound  carronades,  and  2  long  twelves  each. 


If  AVAL  HISTORY.  91 

In  April  1806,  a  law  was  passed,  which  authorized  the 
President  to  employ  as  many  of  the  public  vessels  as  he 
might  deem  necessary,  but  limiting  the  number  of  the  offi- 
cers and  seamen.  By  this  act  the  list  of  the  captains 
was  increased  to.  13,  that  of  the  masters  and  commanders 
to  9,  and  that  of  the  lieutenants  to  72.  The  rank  of  mas- 
ters and  commanders  was  re-established  in  1804,  as  has 
been  already  shown,  and,  of  the  36  lieutenants  retained  in 
1801,  15  had  been  promoted,  13  had  resigned,  1  had  died 
on  service,  1  had  been  drowned  on  service,  1  had  been 
killed  in  battle,  1  had  been  killed  in  a  duel,  1  had  been  dis- 
missed, and  3  still  remained  on  the  list  of  lieutenants.  Of 
those  that  had  been  promoted,  1*  had  resigned,  and  If  had 
been  killed  in  battle.  It  follows,  that,  in  order  to  complete 
the  new  list  to  72,  69  midshipmen  were  raised  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenants. 

The  list  of  captains,  under  the  new  law,  and  after  the 
changes  just  named,  consisted  of  the  following  gentlemen, 


1  Samuel  Nicholson,  8  Hugh  G.  Campbell, 

2  Alexander  Murray,  9  Stephen  Decatur, 

3  Samuel  Barron,  10  Thomas  Tingey, 

4  John  Rodgers,  11  Charles  Stewart, 

5  Edward  Preble,  12  Isaac  Hull, 

6  James  Barron,  13  John  Shaw, 

7  William  Bainbridge,  14  Isaac  Chauncey. 

The  list  of  masters  and  commanders  at  the  same  period, 
was  as  follows,  viz : 

1  John  Smith,  5  David  Porter, 

2  George  Cox,  6  John  Cassin, 

3  John  H.  Dent,  7  Samuel  Evans, 

4  Thomas  Robinson,  8  Charles  Gordon, 

*  Sterrett.  f  Somers. 


92  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

The  condition  of  the  navy  may  be  said  to  have  been  nega- 
tive at  the  period  of  which  we  are  now  writing,  for  while  all 
who  reflected  seriously  on  the  subject,  felt  the  necessity  of 
greatly  increasing  this  branch  of  the  national  defence,  no- 
thing efficient  was  attempted,  or,  apparently,  contemplated. 
Ships  of  the  line,  without  which  it  would  be  impossible  to 
prevent  any  of  even  the  secondary  maritime  states  of  Europe 
from  blockading  the  ports  of  the  country,  were  now  scarcely 
mentioned,  and  the  materials  that  had  been  collected  for 
that  object,   in  1800,   were   rapidly  disappearing  for  the 
purposes  of  repairs  and  re-constructions.     It  is  indeed  diffi- 
cult to  imagine  a  policy  as  short-sighted  and  feeble,  as  that 
pursued  by  Congress  at  this  particular  juncture.  With  politi- 
cal relations  that  were  never  free  from  the  appearances  of 
hostilities,  a  trade  that  covered  all  the  seas  of  the  known 
world,  and  an  experience  that  was  replete  with  lessons  on 
the  necessity  of  repelling  outrages  by  force,  this  great  inr 
terest  was  treated  with  a  neglect  that  approached  fatuity. 
To  add  to  this  oversight,  and  to  increase  the  despondency 
of  the  service,  as  well  as  of  all  those  whose  views  extended 
to  the  future  necessities  of  the  country,  the  government  ap- 
pears to  have  adopted  a  policy,  in  connexion  with  the  de- 
fence of  the  harbours,  bays  and  sounds  of  the  coast,  that  was 
singularly  adapted  to  breaking  down  the  high  tone  that  the 
navy  had  acquired  in  its  recent  experience.     This  plan, 
which  has  been  generally  known  as  the  "  gun-boat-policy," 
originated  as  far  back  as  the  year  1803,  though  it  did  not 
become  of  sufficient  moment  to  be  particularly  noticed  until 
the  time  at  which  we  are  now  arrived,  in  the  regular  order 
of  events. 

In  February  1803,  the  relations  of  the  country  with 
Spain,  in  consequence  of  a  denial  of  a  place  of  deposit  at 
New  Orleans,  had  an  aspect  so  threatening,  that  a  law  was 
passed  appropriating  $50,000  for  the  construction  of  gun- 
boats. In  consequence  of  the  acquisition  of  Louisiana,  by 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  93 

treaty,  however,  this  money  was  never  used,  although  steps 
had  been  taken  to  procure  models  of  the  gun-boats  of  Spain 
and  Naples,  nations  whose  naval  histories,  for  the  previous 
century,  offered  but  questionable  examples  for  the  imitation 
of  a  people  as  singularly  maritime  as  those  of  America. 

In  1804,  gun-boats  were  obtained  from  Naples  to  cannon- 
ade Tripoli,  the  position  of  the  rocks  before  that  town  ad- 
mitting of  their  use,  under  circumstances  of  advantage. 
The  Neapolitan  boats  proving  defective,  a  few  were  built  at 
home,  and  this  species  of  vessel  first  appeared  afloat  in  1805. 
The  hardy  manner  in  which  they  were  carried  across  the 
ocean  and  returned,  has  already  been  mentioned.  The  law 
under  which  these  boats  had  been  built,  contemplated  their 
future  use,  as  an  auxiliary  means  of  permanent  harbour  de- 
fence. 

-  Motives  had  been  gradually  accumulating,  however,  to 
induce  the  executive  to  extend  this  policy.  The  English 
had  set  up  new  doctrines  on  the  subject  of  blockades  and 
the  colonial  trade,  in  opposition  to  doctrines  of  France, 
that  were  equally  opposed  to  common  sense,  obvious  justice 
and  usage;  and,  as  the  former  possessed  a  numerous  and 
active  marine,  these  conflicting  practices  resulted  in  a 
species  of  indirect  and  half-way  blockade  of  the  entire 
American  coast.  English  cruisers  were  constantly  hovering 
around  the  most  frequented  of  the  ports  of  the  country, 
while  privateers,  under  French  commissions,  were  occasion- 
ally guilty  of  the  grossest  excesses.  In  short,  we  have  now 
reached  the  commencement  of  that  extraordinary  state  of 
things,  when  each  of  the  great  European  belligerents  ap- 
peared to  think  that  an  act  of  aggression  by  its  enemy  on  a 
neutral,  was  an  ample  justification  for  retaliating  on  the  un- 
offending and  suffering  party. 

The  gun-boats,  at  first,  were  well  received  in  the  service, 
since  it  gave  enterprising  young  officers  commands;  and  the 
vessels  originally  constructed,  were  of  an  equipment,  size 

8* 


94  KAVAL  HISTORY. 

and  force,  which,  in  a  measure,  removed  the  objections  that 
young  sea-officers  would  be  apt  to  urge  against  serving  in 
them.  At  the  close  of  the  year  1806,  the  president  an- 
nounced to  Congress  that  the  gun-boats  already  authorized 
by  a  law  of  April  of  the  same  year,  50  in  number,  were  so 
far  advanced  as  to  put  it  in  the  power  of  the  government  to 
employ  them  all,  the  succeeding  season,  and  the  message 
contained  a  recommendation  to  extend  the  system. 

An  event  soon  occurred  that  not  only  stimulated  this 
policy,  but  which  induced  the  government  to  resort  to  new 
measures  to  protect  the  country,  some  of  which  were  as 
questionable,  as  they  were  novel.  A  few  ships  had  been 
kept  in  the  Mediterranean,  as  stated,  and  it  is  worthy  of 
being  noted,  that,  with  a  commerce  that,  in  1807,  employ- 
ed 1,200,000  tons  of  shipping,  this  was  the  only  foreign 
station  on  which  an  American  cruiser  was  ever  seen! 
Neither  was  there  any  proper  home-squadron,  notwith- 
standing the  constant  complaints  that  were  made  of  the 
wrongs  inflicted  by  English  and  French  cruisers,  particu- 
larly the  former,  at  the  very  mouths  of  the  harbours  of  the 
country. 

On  the  25th  of  April  1806,  the  British  ship  Leander  50, 
Capt.  Whitby,  in  endeavouring  to  cut  off  a  small  coaster, 
that  was  running  for  Sandy  Hook,  fired  a  shot  into  her, 
which  killed  one  of  her  people;  and,  as  this  outrage  oc- 
curred quite  near  the  shore,  it  excited  a  strong  feeling  of  in- 
dignation, in  a  portion  of  the  country,  at  least.  But,  unfor- 
tunately, party  spirit  had,  at  that  period,  taken  the  worst, 
most  dangerous  and  least  creditable  form,  in  which  it  can 
exist  in  any  free  country.  By  neglecting  to  place  the  re- 
public in  an  attitude  to  command  respect,  the  government 
had  unavoidably  been  reduced  to  appeal  to  arguments  and 
principles,  in  those  cases  in  which  an  appeal  to  force  is  the 
only  preservative  of  national  rights,  and,  in  so  doing,  it 
opened  the  door  to  the  admission  of  sophisms,  counter-ar- 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  95 

guments  and  discussions,  that,  in  the  end,  effectually  arrayed 
one  half  of  the  community  against  the  other,  and  this  too, 
on  matters  in  which  foreign  nations  were  the  real  parties 
on  one  side,  and  the  common  country  on  the  other.  In  a 
word,  the  great  mistake  was  made  of  admitting  of  contro- 
versy concerning  interests  that  all  wise  governments  hold 
to  be  beyond  dispute.  There  will  presently  be  occasion 
to  advert  to  some  of  the  consequences  of  this  extraordinary 
state  of  things,  that  are  more  peculiarly  connected  with 
our  subject.  -»•*- 

While  the  feelings,  policy,  and  preparations  of  the  United 
States  were  in  the  condition  just  mentioned,  the  Chesapeake 
38,  was  ordered  to  be  put  in  commission,  with  a  view  of 
sending  her  to  the  Mediterranean,  as  the  relief-ship,  the 
time  of  the  people  of  the  Constitution  44,  the  flag-ship  on 
that  station,  being  nearly  up.  Capt.  Charles  Gordon,  the 
youngest  master-commandant  on  the  list,  was  attached  to 
the  Chesapeake  as  her  captain,  and  Capt.  James  Barren  was 
selected  to  hoist  a  broad  pennant  in  her,  as  commander  of 
the  squadron.  Both  these  officers  enjoyed  high  characters 
in  the  service;  Com.  Barren,  in  particular,  being  deemed 
one  of  the  most  ingenious  and  ready  seamen  that  America 
had  ever  produced. 

The  Chesapeake  was  lying  at  the  navy  yard  Washington, 
and  was  put  in  commission  early  in  1807.  By  an  order  of 
the  date  of  February  22nd  of  that  year,  Capt.  Gordon  was 
first  attached,  but  the  specific  orders  to  Com.  Barron,  do  not 
appear  to  have  been  given  until  May  the  15th.  The  ship 
remained  at  Washington,  taking  in  her  masts,  and  stores, 
and  receiving  officers  and  men,  until  the  close  of  the  spring. 
During  this  time,  the  English  minister  informed  the  govern- 
ment, that  three  deserters  from  his  B.  M.  ship  Melampus, 
had  enlisted  among  the  crew  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  he  re- 
quested that  they  might  be  given  up.  Although  the  right  to 
demand  deserters  is  not  recognized  by  the  laws  of  nations, 


96  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

there  is  usually  a  disposition  between  friendly  governments  to 
aid  each  other  in  securing  these  delinquents,  especially  when 
it  can  be  done  under  circumstances  that  produce  no  direct 
injury,  and  the  matter  was  referred  to  Com.  Barren,  for  in- 
vestigation, by  the  navy  department.  The  inquiry  appears 
to  have  been  made  in  a  proper  temper,  and  with  a  sincere 
wish  to  dismiss  the  men,  should  they  actually  prove  to  be 
what .  was  represented,  though  it  might  be  questioned 
whether  the  president  himself  legally  possessed  any  power  to 
give  them  up  to  their  own  officers.  Gom.  Barron  directed 
Capt.  Gordon  to  inquire  into  the  matter  with  care,  and  to 
make  his  report.  It  was  ascertained  that  the  three  men 
were  actually  deserters  from  the  ship  named,  but  they  all 
claimed  to  be  impressed  Americans,  who  had  availed  them- 
selves of  the  first  opportunity  that  offered,  on  landing  in 
their  native  country,  to  make  their  escape  from  illegal  and 
unjust  detention.  One  of  these  men  was  said  to  be  a  na- 
tive of  the  Eastern  Shore,  a  part  of  the  country  in  which 
Capt.  Gordon  was  born,  and  that  officer,  after  a  careful  ex- 
amination, appears  to  have  been  satisfied  with  the  truth  of 
his  account.  Another  was  a  coloured  man,  and  there  was 
hardly  a , doubt  of  the  truth  of  his  allegations;  while  the 
case  of  the  third  seaman,  though  in  part  established,  was  not 
entirely  clear.  Under  the  circumstances,  however,  a  sea- 
man found  in  the  country,  and  demanding  the  protection  of 
its  laws  as  a  native,  could  not  be  given  up  to  a  service  that 
was  known  constantly  to  violate  the  rights  of  individuals, 
on  the  naked  demand  of  that  service,  and  in  the  absence 
of  all  affirmative  proof  of  its  being  in  the  right.  The 
English  minister  received  the  report,  and  he  appears  to 
have  been  satisfied,  as  no  more  was  said  on  the  subject. 

Although  Capt.  Gordon  was  attached  to  the  Chesapeake 
in  February,  he  does  not  appear  to  have  actually  taken  the 
command  of  the  ship  until  the  1st  of  May,  as  she  was  still 
in  the  hands  of  the  mechanics.  About  the  beginning  of 


NAVAL  HISTORV.  97 

June,  she  sailed  from  Washington  for  Norfolk.  At  this  time, 
there  were  but  twelve  guns  on  board;  and,  as  it  is  customa- 
ry for  all  vessels  of  war  to  fire  a  salute  in  passing  Mount 
Vernon,  it  was  discovered,  on  that  occasion,  that  some  of  the 
equipments  of  the  guns  were  imperfect.  Orders  were  issued 
by  Capt.  Gordon  in  consequence,  though  the  circumstance 
probably  excited  less  attention  than  would  otherwise  have 
been  the  case,  on  account  of  the  unfinished  state  of  the  ves- 
sel. The  Chesapeake  arrived  in  Hampton  Roads  on  the 
4th  of  June,  and  on  the  6th,  Com.  Barron  paid  her -a  short 
visit. 

Between  the  6th  of  June  and  the  19th,  the  remainder  of 
the  guns  and  stores  were  received  on  board  the  Chesapeake, 
her  crew  was  completed  to  about  375  souls,  and,  on  the  lat- 
ter day,  Capt.  Gordon  reported  her  to  Com.  Barron,  as 
ready  for  sea.  Up  to  the  6th  of  June,  the  people  had  not 
even  been  quartered  at  all,  and  between  that  day  and  the 
time  of  sailing,  they  had  been  at  quarters  but  three  times ; 
on  neither  of  which  occasions,  were  the  guns  exercised. 

About  8  A.  M.,  June  22d,  1807,  the  Chesapeake  38,  Capt. 
Gordon,  bearing  the  broad  pennant  of  Com.  Barron,  got 
under  way,  from  Hampton  Roads,  bound  to  the  Mediterra- 
nean. At  that  early  day,  the  armament  of  the  ship  con- 
sisted of  28  eighteen-pounders  on  her  gun-deck,  and  of  12 
carronades  above,  making  a  total  of  40  guns.  She  was  a 
roomy  and  convenient  vessel,  but  was  thought  to  be  weak 
for  her  dimensions,  and  her  sailing  was  remarkable  neither 
way. 

A  squadron  of  British  ships  of  war,  varying  constantly  in 
.numbers  and  vessels,  had  been  watching  some  French 
frigates  that  lay  at  Annapolis,  several  months ;  and  it  was 
their  practice  to  lie  in  Lynnhaven,  or,  occasionally,  to  cruise 
in  the  offing.  On  the  21st  of  June,  this  squadron  had  con- 
sisted of  three  vessels,  one  of  which  was  the  Bellona  74,  and 
another  the  Melampus  38,  the  ship  from  which  the  three 


98  ,  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

seamen,  already  mentioned,  had  deserted.  On  the  evening 
of  the  same  day,  a  fourth  vessel,  which  was  afterwards  as- 
certained to  be  the  Leopard  50,  Capt.  Humphreys,  came  in 
and  anchored.  The  Leopard  was  a  small  two-decker,  had 
a  lower-deck  battery  of  twenty-fours,  and  is  said  to  have 
mounted  56  guns.  When  the  Chesapeake  weighed,  up  at 
Hampton  Roads,  the  Leopard  lifted  her  anchor,  and  pre- 
ceded the  American  frigate  to  sea  by  several  miles.  The 
wind  was  light,  at  north-west ;  and  as  the  Leopard  got  an 
offing,  she  disappeared  behind  Cape  Henry. 

A  little  after  12  o'clock,  the  Chesapeake  was  up  with  the 
cape,  when  the  wind  shifted  to  the  southward  and  eastward. 
As  she  opened  the  offing,  the  Leopard  was  seen  a  few  miles 
distant  to  windward,  heading  to  the  eastward,  with  appa- 
rently very  little  air.  She  soon  took  the  new  wind,  however, 
when  both  ships  made  stretches  to  get  free  of  the  land,  there 
being  a  good  working  breeze  and  perfectly  smooth  water. 
The  Leopard  tacked  with  the  Chesapeake,  though  the  latter 
ship  appears  to  have  closed  with  her,  the  distance  between 
the  two  vessels  gradually  lessening.  By  some  accounts,  the 
English  ship  shortened  sail  in  order  to  allow  this.  Up  to 
this  moment,  however,  it  is  the  better  opinion,  that  there 
was  nothing  unusual,  or  suspicious,  in  her  movements.  The 
British  cruisers  were  in  the  habit  of  standing  out  in  this 
manner,  and  the  Leopard  obtained  the  weather  gage,  alto- 
gether by  the  shift  of  wind. 

About  3  o'clock,  both  vessels  having  an  offing  of  some 
six  or  eight  miles*  the  Chesapeake  tacked  to  the  eastward 
again,  and  the  Leopard,  then  about  a  mile  to  windward, 
wore  round  and  came  down  upon  her  weather  quarter, 
when  she  hailed,  informing  Com.  Barron  that  she  had  a 
despatch  for  him.  In  all  this  there  was  nothing  unusual, 
despatches  having  been  put  on  board  the  Wasp  18,  Capt. 
Smith,  from  the  Bellona  74,  a  few  days  previously,  Jhe 
American  ship  being  bound  to  Europe.  Com.  Barron  an- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  99 

swered  that  he  would  heave  to,  and  receive  a  boat.  Both 
vessels  now  came  to,  the  Chesapeake  by  laying  her  main- 
topsail  to  the  mast,  while  the  accounts  appear  uncertain, 
whether  the  Leopard  backed  her  forward,  or  her  after 
sails.  At  this  time,  it  was  observed  by  some  of  the  officers 
on  board  the  Chesapeake,  however,  that  the  English  ship 
had  her  lower  ports  triced  up,  and  the  tompions  out  of  her 
guns.  It  does  not  appear  that  the  latter  fact,  the  only  one 
of  moment,  was  reported  to  either  Capt.  Gordon,  or  Com. 
Barren. 

In  a  few  minutes*  a  boat  from  the  Leopard  came  along 
side  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  her  officer  was  shown  into  the 
cabin,  where  he  was  received  by  Com.  Barron.  Here  the 
English  lieutenant  produced  an  order,  signed  by  Vice-Ad- 
miral Berkley,  dated  Halifax,  June  1st,  and  addressed  to  all 
the  captains  of  the  ships  under  his  command,  directing 
them,  should  they  fall  in  with  the  Chesapeake,  out  of  the 
waters  of  the  United  Sates,  and  at  sea,  to  show  her  com- 
mander this  order,  to  "  require  to  search  for  deserters,"  and, 
"  to  proceed  and  search  for  the  same,"*  offering  at  the  same 
time,  to  allow  of  a  similar  search  on  board  their  own 
vessels.  Accompanying  this  order,  was  a  note  from  the 
commander  of  the  Leopard,  addressed  to  the  commander 
of  the  Chesapeake,  referring  to  the  order  of  the  vice-admi- 
ral, and  expressing  a  hope  "that  every  circumstance  re- 
specting them  (the  deserters,)  may  be  adjusted  in  a  man- 
ner that  the  harmony  subsisting  between  the  two  countries 
may  remain  undisturbed."  To  this  note,  Com.  Barron  re- 
turned an  answer,  stating  that  he  knew  of  no  such  deserters 
as  described.  He  added,  that  his  recruiting  officers  had  been 
particularly  instructed  by  the  government,  not  to  enter  any 
deserters  from  the  English  ships,  and  that  his  orders  would 

*  See  note  A,  end  of  volume. 


100  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

not  allow  him  to  suffer  his  people  to  be  mustered  by  any 
officers  but  their  own. 

By  referring  to  this  correspondence,  which  will  be  found 
iri  the  appendix,  it  will  be  seen  that  neither  the  order  of 
Vice-Admiral  Berkley,  the  note  of  Capt.  Humphreys,  nor 
the  answer  of  Com.  Barren,  was  perfectly  explicit  on  the 
important  points,  of  whether  force  would  be  used,  if  the  al- 
leged deserters  were  not  given  up,  or  whether  they  would 
be  refused,  could  it  be  shown,  by  any  other  means  than  that 
of  being  mustered  by  foreign  officers,  that  the  men  required 
were  among  the  Chesapeake's  crew.  In  a  word,  the  order 
and  note  were  vague  and  general ;  and  the  answer,  as  far 
as  it  went,  the  most  direct  document  of  the  three,  appears 
to  have  been  fratned  in  a  similar  spirit.  The  British  offi- 
cer was  ordered  to  "  require"  of  the  captain  of  the  Chesa- 
peake, "  to  search  his  ship  for  deserters,"  &c.,  and  "  to 
proceed  and  search  for  the  same,"  &c.  Nothing  is  said  of 
compelling  a  search;  and  though  the  term  "  require,"  was  a 
strong  one,  the  whole  phraseology  of  the  order  was  such  as 
might  very  well  raise  doubts,  Under  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances, how  far  a  party,  who  made  professions  of  a  desire 
to  preserve  the  harmony  of  the  two  nations,  might  feel  dis- 
posed to  violate  public  law,  in  order  to  enforce  its  object. 
The  note  of  Capt.  Humphreys  was  just  as  explict,  and  just 
as  vague  as  the  order,  being  a  mere  echo  of  its  spirit.  Com. 
Barron  very  clearly  refused  to  permit  a  British  officer  to 
search  for  a  deserter,  while  he  did  not  touch  the  general 
principle,  or  what  he  might  do,  could  it  be  shown  by  less 
objectionable  means,  that  there  was  a  British  deserter,  of  the 
sort  mentioned  in  the  order,  on  board  the  Chesapeake,*  and 
the  demand  on  the  part  of  the  English  officers  to  search  in 
person,  was  abandoned.  Had  there  even  existed  a  clause 

*It  would  have  been  illegal,  for  Com.  Barren  to  give  up  a  man 
regularly  entered  among  his  crew,  as  a  deserter.  He  might  have  return- 
ed a  deserter  that  came  on  board  his  ship,  but  nothing  more. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  101 

in  the  treaty  between  England  and  America,  rendering  it 
obligatory  on  the  two  nations  to  deliver  up  each  other's  de- 
serters, the  requisition  of  Vice-Admiral  Berkley,  taken  as 
an  order  to  search  in  person,  would  have  so  far  exceeded 
the  probable  construction  of  reason,  as  to  justify  an  officer 
in  supposing  that  nothing  beyond  a  little  well-managed  in- 
timidation was  intended;  since  nations  do  not  usually  per- 
mit their  treaties  to  be  enforced  by  any  but  their  own 
agents.  While  there  was  something  very  equivocal,  be- 
yond doubt,  in  the  whole  procedure  of  the  British,  it  was  so 
high-handed  a  measure  to  commence  a  demand  for  desert- 
ers, by  insisting  on  a  right  to  search  a  foreign  vessel  of  war 
in  person,  for  them,  that  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  believe 
any  design  to  enforce  a  demand  so  utterly  out  of  the  regular 
course  of  things,  could  be  seriously  entertained.  It  ought 
to  be  added,  that  the  deserters  alluded  to  in  the  order  of 
Vice-Admiral  Berkley,  were  not  those  from  the  Kelampus, 
already  spoken  of,  but  men  from  other  ships,  who  were 
supposed  to  have  entered  on  board  the  Chesapeake  at  a 
much  later  day.* 

The  English  lieutenant  was  on  board  the  Chesapeake 
some  time ;  the  accounts  of  the  length  of  his  visit  varying 
from  15  to  45  minutes.  It  is  probable  he  was  fully  half  an 
hour  in  the  cabin.  His  stay  appears  to  have  been  long 
enough  to  excite  uneasiness  on  board  his  own  ship,  for, 
while  Com.  Barron  was  deliberating  on  the  course  he  ought 
to  pursue,  information  was  sent  below  that  a  signal  was 
flying  on  board  the  Leopard,  which  her  officer  immediately 

*  It  is  said  that  one  man  in  particular,  who  had  run  from  the  Halifax 
sloop  of  war,  had  been  seen  by  his  old  captain  in  Norfolk,  and  that  he  had 
insulted  the  latter  in  the  street.  This  was  the  person  the  English  officers 
were  the  most  anxious  to  obtain.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  any 
men,  but  those  from  the  Melampus,  had  ever  been  formally  demanded  of 
the  proper  authorities,  though  something  may  have  passed  on  the  subject 
between  subordinates. 
VOL.  II.— 9 


102  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

declared  to  be  an  order  for  the  return  of  the  boat.  Soon  after 
this  signal  was  shown,  the  answer  of  Com.  Barron  was  de- 
livered. ' 

Com.  Barron  now  sent  for  Capt.  Gordon,  and  told  him  to 
get  the  gun-deck  clear,  a  duty  that  had  been  commenced 
an  hour  or  two  before,  without  reference  to  the  Leopard. 
He  then  went  on  deck.  Soon  after  the  English  officer  had 
passed  out  of  the  ship  into  His  own  boat,  by  the  larboard,  or 
lee-gangway,  Com.  Barron  appeared  in  the  starboard,  or 
weather-gangway,  to  examine  the  Leopard.  Here  it  would 
seem  that  the  latter  was  forcibly  struck  with  the  appearance 
of  preparation  on  board  the  English  ship,  and  the  idea  that 
recourse  might  be  had  to  force,  began  to  impress  him  se- 
riously. He  issued  an  order  to  Capt.  Gordon,  to  hasten  the 
work  on  the  gun-deck,  and  to  go  to  quarters.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  latter  order,  a  few  taps  were  beaten  on  the 
drum,  but  that  instrument  was  stopped  by  directions  of 
Com.  Barron,  and  instructions  were  given  to  get  the  people 
to  their  quarters,  with  as  little  noise  and  parade  as  possible, 
in  order  to  gain  time,  if  the  Leopard  really  meditated  hos- 
tilities. 

It  is  not  easy  to  imagine  a  vessel  of  war  in  a  more  unfor- 
nate  situation,  than  that  of  the  Chesapeake  at  this  particu- 
lar moment.  With  a  ship  of  superior  force  within  pistol 
shot,  ori  her  weather  quarter,  her  guns  trained,  matches 
burning,  people  drilled,  and  every  thing  ready  to  com- 
mence a  heavy  fire,  while  she  herself  was  littered  and 
lumbered,  with  a  crew  that  had  not  yet  exercised  her 
guns,  and  which  had  been  only  three  times  even  mustered 
at  their  quarters.  The  business  of  coiling  away  her  cables, 
which  had  lain  on  the  gun-deck  until  after  2  o'clock,  was 
still  going  on,  while  the  cabin  bulk-head,  cabin  furniture, 
and  some  temporary  pantries  were  all  standing  aft.  A 
good  deal  of  the  baggage  of  the  passengers  in  the  ship,  was 
also  on  the  gun-deck.  It  would  seem,  however,  that  some 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  103 

of  the  lieutenants  had  regarded  the  movements  of  the  Leo- 
pard with  distrust  from  the  beginning ;  and  the  vessel  be- 
ing particularly  well  officered,  these  gentlemen  soon  made 
an  active  commencement,  towards  getting  the  ship  clear. 
The  guns  were  all  loaded  and  shotted,  but,  on  examination 
it  was  found  that  there  was  a  deficiency  in  rammers,  wads, 
matches,  gun-locks  and  powder-horns.  While  things  were 
in  this  awkward  condition,  Com.  Barron  continued  in  the 
gangway  examining  the  Leopard.  The  boat  of  the  latter 
was  about  five  minutes  in  pulling  back  to  that  vessel,  and 
as  soon  as  the  people  were  out  of  her,  she  was  dropped 
astern,  where  most  of  her  boats  were  towing,  and  the  Eng- 
lish ship  hailed.  Com.  Barron  answered  that  he  did  not 
understand  the  hail,  when  the  Leopard  fired  a  shot  ahead 
of  the  Chesapeake.  In  a  few  seconds  this  shot  was  followed 
by  an  entire  broadside.  By.this  discharge,  in  addition  to 
other  injuries  done  the  ship,  Com.  Barron,  who  continued  in 
the  gangway,  and  his  aide,  Mr.  Broom,  were  wounded. 
The  Leopard  was  now  hailed,  and  some  answer  was  re- 
turned, but  the  noise  and  confusion  rendered  all  attempts  at 
a  communication  in  this  mode,  useless.  A  boat  was  shortly 
after  ordered  to  be  lowered,  to  be  sent  to  the  Leopard,  but 
it  did  not  proceed. 

Every  exertion  was  making  all  the  while,  to  get  the  bat- 
teries ready,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  forward  gun  be- 
low, the  port  of  which  was  still  down  on  account  of  the 
anchor,  it  appears  that  one  broadside  might  have  been 
fired,  had  not  the  means  of  discharging  the  guns  been  abso- 
lutely wanting.  For  some  time,  there  was  no  priming  pow- 
der, and  when  an  insufficient  quantity  did  finally  arrive, 
there  were  no  matches,  locks,  nor  loggerheads.  Some  of 
the  latter  were  brought  from  the  galley,  however,  and  they 
were  applied  to  the  priming,  but  were  yet  too  cold  to  fire 
the  guns.  In  the  mean  while,  the  Leopard,  in  an  excellent 
position,  and  favoured  by  smooth  water,  was  deliberately 


104  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

pouring  in  her  whole  fire  upon  an  unresisting  ship.  This  state 
of  things  lasted  from  twelve  to  eighteen  minutes,  when  Com. 
Barron,  having  repeatedly  desired  that  one  gun,  at  least, 
might  be  discharged,  ordered  the  colours  to  be  hauled 
down.  Just  as  the  ensign  reached  the  taffrail,  one  gun  was 
fired  from  the  second  division  of  the  ship.* 

The  Chesapeake  immediately  sent  a  boat  on  board  the 
Leopard,  to  say  that  the  ship  was  at  the  disposal  of  the  Eng- 
lish captain,  when  the  latter  directed  his  officers  to  muster 
the  American  crew.  The  three  men  claimed  to  be  deserters 
from  the  Melampus,  and  one  that  had  run  from  the  Hali- 
fax sloop  of  war,  were  carried  away.  Corn.  Barron 
now  sent  another  note  to  Capt.  Humphreys,  to  state  his 
readiness  to  give  up  his  ship;  but  the  latter  declining  to  take 
charge  of  her,  a  council  of  the  officers  was  called,  and  the 
Chesapeake  returned  to  Hampton  Roads  the  same  evening. 
In  this  affair,  the  Leopard,  of  course,  suffered  very 
little.  The  single  shot  that  was  fired,  it  is  understood, 
hulled  her,  but  no  person  was  injured.  Not  so  with  the 
Chesapeake,  although  the  injuries  she  sustained,  were  pro- 
bably less  than  might  have  been  expected.  The  accounts 
of  the  duration  of  the  firing,  vary  from  seven  to  twenty  mi- 
nutes, though  the  majority  of  opinions  place  it  at  about 
twelve.  But  three  men  were  killed  on  the  spot ;  eight  were 
badly,  and  ten  were  slightly  wounded ;  making  a  total  of 
twenty-one  casualties.  The  Leopard  appears  to  have  thrown 
the  weight  of  her  grape  into  the  lower  sails,  the  courses  and 
fore-topmast  stay-sail  having  been  riddled  with  that  descrip- 
tion of  shot.  Twenty-one  round  shot  struck  the  hull.  As 
it  is  known  that  the  first  broadside,  when  vessels  are  near 

*  This  gun  was  discharged  by  means  of  a  coal  brought  from  the  galley, 
which  was  applied  by  Lieut.  Allen,  the  officer  of  the  division,  with 
his  fingers,  after  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  make  use  of  a  logger- 
head. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  105 

and  in  smooth  water,  usually  does  as  much  injury  as  several 
of  the  succeeding,  and  as  all  the  firing  of  the  Leopard,  in 
one  sense  at  least,  may  be  said  to  have  possessed  this  ad- 
vantage, the  execution  she  did  cannot  be  considered  as  any 
thing  remarkable.  All  three  of  the  lower  masts  of  the 
American  frigate  were  injured,  it  is  true,  and  a  good  deal 
of  rigging  was  cut;  still  the  impression  left  by  the  occur- 
rence, went  to  convince  the  American  service,  that  English 
fire  was  not  so  formidable  as  tradition  and  rumour  had 
made  it. 

The  attack  on  the  Chesapeake,  and  its  results,  created  a 
strong  and  universal  sensation  in  America.  At  first,  as  ever 
happens  while  natural  feeling  and.  national  sentiment  are 
uninfluencedxby  calculations  of  policy,  there  was  but  one 
voice  ofxfndignation  and  resentment,  though,  in  a  short 
time,  the  fiend  of  party  lifted  his  head,  and  persons  were  not 
wanting  who  preStfmed  to  justify  the  course  taken  by  the 
English  vice-admiral.  Notwithstanding  these  exceptions, 
the  general  effect  was  certainly  very  adverse  to  the  British 
cause  in  America,  and  the  injury  was  not  fairly  forgotten, 
until  it  had  been  effaced  from  the  public  mind  by  many  sub- 
sequent victories. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  wounded  national 
feeling  eagerly  sought  for  some  palliative,  and,  as  usually 
happens  in  such  cases,  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
Chesapeake  soon  became  the  subject  of  those  inconsiderate 
and  unjust  comments,  which  ever  accompany  popular 
clamour,  when  the  common  self-esteem  is  lessened.  A 
court  of  inquiry  sat,  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  the  results 
were  courts-martial  on  Com.  Barren,  Capt.  Gordon,  Capt. 
Hall, 'the  commanding  marine  officer  on  board,  and  the 
gunner. 

The  charges  produced  against  Com.  Barron  were  four, 
viz:  1st.* "For  negligently  performing  the  duty  assigned 
him."  Under  this  charge  the  specifications  alleged  that  he 

9* 


106  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

had  not  sufficiently  visited  and  examined  the  ship,  previous- 
ly to  sailing.  2d.  "  For  neglecting,  on  the  probability  of  an 
engagement,  to  clear  his  ship  for  action."  There  were  six 
specifications  under  this  charge,  all  tending  to  the  same 
point.  3d.  "  Failing  to  encourage,  in  his  own  person,  his 
inferior  officers  and  men  to  fight  courageously."  Ten  spe- 
cifications were  made  under  this  charge,  all,  more  or  less, 
implicating  the  military  judgment  and  personal  courage  of 
the  accused.  4.  "For  not  doing  his  utmost  to  take  or  des- 
troy the  Leopard,  which  vessel  it  was  his  duty  to  encoun- 
ter." Five  specifications  supported  this  charge. 

There  is  little  question  that  the  government,  nation,  and 
we  might  almost  add,  the  navy,  felt  a  predisposition  to  con- 
demn Com.  Barron,  previously  to  the  trial,  for  it  is  the 
natural  and  most  common  refuge  of  masses  of  men,  to  seek 
a  victim  whenever  they  find  themselves  in  any  manner  im- 
plicated in  their  characters,  or  conduct.  The  court  was 
well  composed,  and  its  hearing  was  solemn  and  dignified. 
It  has  been  said  that  this  tribunal  first  set  the  example  to 
the  service,  of  a  rigid  adherence  to  principles,  forms,  and 
precepts  in  its  proceedings,  and  it  has  always  been  spoken 
of  with  respect  for  its  impartiality  and  motives.  Of  the 
four  charges  made,  Com.  Barron  was  entirely  acquitted  of 
the  first,  third  and  fourth,  and  found  guilty  under  the 
second.  Several  of  the  specifications  of  the  other  char- 
ges were  found  to  be  true,  but  the  court  decided  that  they 
did  not  involve  the  guilt  implied  in  the  accusations.  It  was 
the  final  decision,  that  Com.  Barron  was  guilty  of  the  5th 
and  6th  specifications  of  the  2nd  charge,  which  were  in 
the  following  words: — "5th.  In  that,  the  said  James  Bar- 
ron did  receive  from  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Leo- 
pard, a  communication  clearly  intimating,  that  if  certain 
men  were  not  delivered  up  to  him,  he  should  proceed  to 
use  force,  and  still,  the  said  James  Barron,  neglected  to 
clear  his  ship  for  action."  6th.  "In  that,  the  said  James 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  107 

Barren  did  verily  believe  from  the  communication  he  re- 
ceived from  the  commanding  officer  of  the  said  ship  Leo- 
pard, that  the  said  ship  would  fire  upon  the  said  frigate 
Chesapeake,  or  take  by  force,  if  they  could  not  be  obtained 
by  other  means,  any  British  deserters  that  could  be  found 
on  board  the  Chesapeake,  and  still  the  said  James  Barron 
neglected  to  clear  his  ship  for  action."  On  these  two  speci- 
fications under  the  charge  of  neglect  of  duty,  Com.  Barron 
was  sentenced  to  be  suspended  for  five  years,  without  pay 
or  emoluments. 

It  may  be  questioned  if  the  order  of  Vice-Admiral  Berk- 
ley and  the  note  of  Capt.  Humphreys  will  be  thought,  by 
all  persons,  to  be  "communications  clearly  intimating"  an 
intention  to  resort,  to  force,  under  the  peculiar  circumstan- 
ces of  the  case.  The  first  would  seem  to  have  been  framed 
with  great  art,  expressing  nothing  very  clearly,  and  coupled 
with  the  fact  of  its  containing  instructions  to  show  the  order 
itself  to  the  American  captain,  it  might  very  well  be  sup- 
posed to  have  been  no  more  than  an  expedient  ingeniously 
devised  to  obtain  the  ends  of  the  British  officers  by  intimi- 
dation. Had  the  Chesapeake  been  prepared  for  action, 
for  instance,  and  the  English  lieutenant  being  detained, 
had  Com.  Barron,  assuming  that  the  order  of  Admiral 
Berkley  was  an  act  of  hostility,  as  was  assumed,  in  effect, 
by  the  court,  attacked  and  subdued  the  Leopard,  •  the 
world  would  probably  have  heard  the  complaints  of  En- 
gland for  a  violation  of  good  faith,  under  the  plea  that  to 
"require  to  search  his  ship  for  deserters,"  with  an  offer  to 
submit  to  a  similar  search  on  board  the  British  ship,  was 
not  necessarily  an  act  of  hostility,  and  that  the  additional 
order  "  to  proceed  and  search  for  the  same,"  was  merely 
given  under  the  supposition  that  the  demand  contained  in 
the  requisition  would  have  been  amicably  granted.  « 

If  the  testimony  fully  sustained  the  6th  specification, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  Com.  Barron  was  guilty  of 


108  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

culpable  neglect,  but  it  may  be  thought  that  this  point,  also, 
admits  of  some  qualification.  It  appears,  by  tFie  finding  of 
the  court,  that  it  made  up  its  decision  on  this  specification 
from  two  facts,  viz,  expressions  in  a  note  accompanying  the 
official  report  made  of  the  affair  by  Com.  Barren  to  the 
navy  department,  and  expressions  he  had  used  in  conversa- 
tion prior  to  the  attack.  As  regards  the  first,  Com.  Barron 
tells  the  secretary,  that  the  purport  of  Vice- Admiral  Berk- 
ley's order  was  to  take  the  men  by  force,  in  the  event  of  no 
other  means  offering,  a  statement  that  is  certainly  not 
borne  out  by  the  order  itself,  as  it  has  since  been  given  to 
the  world.  On  his  trial,  Com.  Barron  explains  this  dis- 
crepancy between  the  fact  and  his  own  statement,  and 
which  appears  to  have  militated  so  much  against  his  own 
interests,  by  saying  that  he  wrote  the  note  after  the  affair 
had  occurred,  under  much  bodily  suffering  from  wounds, 
and  great  mental  agitation,  and  that  he  must  have  con- 
founded the  impressions  left  by  events,  with  opinions  form- 
ed previously  to  their  occurrence.  On  examining  this  part 
of  the  subject,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  answer  is  not  without 
much  force. 

The  second  fact  rests  on  the  testimony  of  Capt.  Gordon, 
who  informed  the  court  that,  while  at  dinner,  an  hour  or 
two  before  the  Leopard  closed,  Corn.  Barron  said  he  dis- 
trusted her  movements.  As  respects  verbal  declarations, 
they  are  always  to  be  taken  with  great  allowances,  the  or- 
dinary language  of  men  being  so  much  qualified  by  the  cir- 
cumstances under  which  it  is  uttered,  and  they  have  always 
been  held  questionable  evidence,  except  when  used  in 
cases  of  gravity  and  solemnity.  A  remark  of  this  nature 
may  have  been  made  without  suspecting  hostilities,  since  a 
demand  for  deserters,  by  no  means  would  infer  an  inten- 
tion to*  resort  to  force,  on  receiving  a  denial. 

In  his  defence,  Com.  Barron  says  that  he  expected 
another  communication  from  Capt.  Humphreys,  during 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  109 

which  there  would  have  been  ample  time,  should  it  be  ne- 
cessary, to  clear  the  ship  for  action,  had  the  ship  been  in  a 
condition  to  engage  at  all.  In  short,  after  carefully  re- 
viewing the  testimony,  and  the  finding  of  the  court,  most 
persons  will  be  led  to  believe  that  Com.  Barren  was  pun- 
ished to  the  fullest  extent  of  his  offence,  and,  whatever 
may  be  the  dictations  of  a  rigid  military  code,  and  the  exac- 
tions of  stern  military  principles,  that  he  was  the  victim  of 
circumstances,  rather  than  of  any  unpardonable  error  of 
his  own.  It  would  have  been  safer,  wiser,  and  more  in 
conformity  with  naval  rules,  to  have  gone  to  quarters,  as 
the  ships  approached  each  other,  and  as  soon  as  the  letter 
of  Capt.  Humphreys  was  received,  it  would  seem  that  what 
before  was  only  expedient  became  imperative,  but  the  case 
admits  of  so  much  extenuation,  that  general  rules  will 
hardly  apply  to  it.  It  is  highly  Satisfactory  to  be  able  to 
add,  that  a  court  composed  of  men  who,  in  so  many  in- 
stances, have  shown  their  own  devotion  to  the  honour  of 
the  flag,  closed  its  finding,  on  the  subject  of  the  personal 
conduct  of  the  accused,  in  the  following  impressive  lan- 
guage: "No  transposition  of  the  specifications,  or  any  other 
modification  of  the  charges  themselves,  would  alter  the 
opinion  of  the  court  as  to  the  firmness  and  courage  of  the 
accused.  The  evidence  on  this  point  is  clear  and  satis- 
factory." 

The  trial  of  Capt  Gordon  resulted  in  his  being  found 
guilty  of  negligently  performing  his  duty,  in  connexion  with 
some  trifling  informalities  in  the  gunner's  reports,  and  in 
those  of  the  marine  officer.  He  was  sentenced  to  be  pri- 
vately reprimanded. 

Capt.  Hall,  of  the  marines,  fared  still  better,  his  offence 
being  purely  technical ;  and  in  sentencing  him  to  be  also 
privately  reprimanded,  the  court  added  that  if  it  could  have 
discovered  a  lighter  punishment,  it  would  have  inflicted  it. 
The  gunner  was  cashiered,  chiefly  because  he  had  neglected 


110  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

to  fill  a  sufficient  number  of  the  priming  horns,  notwith- 
standing a  direct  order  had  been  given  to  that  effect,  which 
he  had  reported  executed.  It  is  not  easy  to  discover  any 
defects  in  the  three  last  decisions  of  the  court,  which  would 
seem  to  have  been  justified  by  the  testimony,  although  it 
was  clearly  established  by  the  evidence  of  nearly  all  the 
sea-officers  examined,  that  had  they  succeeded  in  firing  the 
guns  that  were  loaded,  the  means  were  wanting  to  dis- 
charge a  second  broadside. 

The  revelations  made  by  these  courts-martial,  contain 
matter  for  grave  reflection;  and  it  may  well  be  questioned, 
if  any  impartial  person,  who  coolly  examines  the  whole  sub- 
ject, will  not  arrive  at  the  conclusion,  that  the  real  delin- 
quents were  never  put  on  their  trial.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered that  in  the  year  1807,  America  possessed  the  ex- 
perience of  three  naval  wars ;  that  by  the  force  of  things, 
she  had  created  a  corps  of  officers,  which,  small  as  it  was, 
had  no  superior,  in  any  other  country;  that  her  artisans  put 
on  the  ocean  as  fine  vessels  of  their  class  as  floated,  and 
that  the  conviction  of  the  necessity  of  an  efficient  marine, 
was  deep  and  general.  In  the  face  of  all  these  striking 
facts,  it  is  seen  that  four  months  were  required  to  fit  a  single 
frigate  for  sea,  at  a  yard  immediately  under  the  eyes  of 
Congress,  and  this,  too,  at  a  moment  when  there  existed  a 
pressing  necessity  for  hastening  the  preparations.*  Under 
such  circumstances,  we  find  that  this  frigate  did  not  receive 
all  her  guns  until  a  few  days  before  she  sailed ;  that  her 
crew  was  coming  on  board  to  the  latest  hour;  that  her  peo- 
ple had  been  quartered  but  three  days  before  the  ship  went 
to  sea,  and  that  the  responsible  officer  was  acquitted  of  ne- 
glect, on  the  plea  of  the  imperious  necessity  under  which  he 

*  The  Chesapeake  was  destined  to  relieve  the  Constitution,  and  the 
crew  of  the  latter  ship  was  actually  in  a  state  of  mutiny,  if  they  can  be 
called  mutineers  who  were  illegally  detained,  because  their  times  were 
up,  and  they  were  entitled  to  their  discharges. 


NAVAL  HISTORV.  Ill 

had  acted,  although  it  was  admitted  that  when  a  foreign 
vessel  of  war  came  along  side  of  his  ship  to  offer,  not  only 
an  indignity  to  his  flag,  but  direct  violence  to  his  men,  his 
people  had  never  been  exercised  at  their  guns.  A  public 
cruiser  had  been  sent  out  in  face  of  those,  who,  armed  at  all 
points,  sought  her  destruction,  as  unceremoniously,  hurried- 
ly, and  negligently  as  if  her  employment  was  merely  that 
of  a  passenger-hoy.  When  it  was  found  that  the  nation 
had  been  disgraced,  so  unsound  was  the  state  of  popular 
feeling,  that  the  real  delinquents  were  overlooked,  while 
their  victims  became  the  object  of  popular  censure. 

It  is  an  axiom,  as  true  as  it  is  venerable,  that  a  "divided 
power  becomes  an  irresponsible  power."  Such,  in  fact,  is 
the  nature  of  the  authority  wielded  by  the  national  legisla- 
ture, the  neglect  of  which,  in  the  way  of  military  and  naval 
preparations,  would  long  since  have  ruined  most  of  the 
statesmen  of  the  country,  had  they  been  guilty  of  the  same 
omissions,  as  individuals,  that  they  have  sanctioned  as  bo- 
dies of  men.  We  may  lament  the  infatuation,  condemn  the 
selfishness,  and  denounce  the  abandonment  of  duty,  which 
impel  ambitious  politicians  to  convert  the  legislative  halls 
into  arenas  for  political  controversies  that  ought  never  to 
degrade  their  deliberations,  or  impair  the  sanctity  of  their 
oaths;  but  when  we  find  the  consequences  of  such  unconsti- 
tutional innovations,  putting  in  jeopardy  the  lives  and  ho- 
nours of  those  who  are  subject  to  martial  law,  a  solemn 
and  reproving  sentiment  must  unavoidably  mingle  with  the 
views  of  every  honest  citizen,  as  he  maturely  considers  the 
hardships  of  the  case. 

The  act  of  Vice-Admiral  Berkley  was  disavowed  by  the 
English  government,  and  reparation  was  made  for  the 
wrong.*  That  officer  was  recalled  from  the  American  sta- 

*  Although  the  Melampus  was  not  one  of  the  ships  mentioned  in  the. 
order  of  Vice-Admiral  Berkley,  the  three  deserters  from  that  ship,  as  has 
been  seen,  were  taken  away,  with  one  from  the  Halifax.  Two  of  the 

* 


112  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

tion;  though  the  people  of  the  republic  found  just  cause  of 
complaint,  in  the  circumstance  that  he  was  shortly  after 
sent  to  a  command  that  was  considered  more  important. 
It  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  that  the  attack  on  the  Chesa- 
peake occurred  at  a  moment  when  the  relations  between 
the  two  countries  were  rather  more  amicable  than  they 
had  been  for  several  years,  or  it  might  have  led  to  an  im- 
mediate declaration  of  war. 

former  were  returned,  and  the  third  died.  The  two  men  returned, 
were  delivered  on.  the  deck  of  the  ship  from  which  they  had  been  violently 
taken  away.  It  is  understood  that  the  deserter  from  the  Halifax  was 
hanged,  before  orders  could  be  received  from  England  to  deliver  him  up. 
It  is  also  said,  that  Capt.  Humphreys  was  never  again  employed,  in  con- 
sequence of  its  being  thought  that  he  had  exceeded  his  instructions. 


'f  C    , 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  1  13 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE  assault  of  the  Leopard  on  the  Chesapeake,  was  re- 
plete with  political  lessons  for  the  people  of  the  United 
States.  It  showed  the  insults  and  outrages  to  which  na- 
tions render  themselves  liable,  when  they  neglect  the  means 
of  defence;  it  demonstrated  how  boldly  their  great  com- 
mercial rivals  calculated  on  the  influence  of  that  spirit  of 
gain  which  was  thought  to  predominate  in  the  councils  of  the 
republic;  and  it  exhibited  a  determination  on  the  part  of  the 
English  agents,  if  not  on  that  of  the  government,  to  insist 
on  claims  that  can  never  be  yielded  by  independent  nations, 
without  a  concession  of  a  portion  of  their  sovereign  rights. 
But  humiliating  as  all  these  considerations  make  the  case, 
and  extraordinary  as  were  the  conduct  and  feelings  of  the 
English,  the  policy  pursued  by  the  American  governmennt, 
as  a  means  of  punishing  the  aggressors,  and  of  vindicating 
the  rights  of  the  country,  was  quite  as  much  out  of  the  or- 
dinary channel  of  correct  reasoning.  With  a  foreign  trade 
that  employed  700,000  tons  of  American  shipping  alone, 
congress  passed  a  law  on  the  22nd  day  of  December  1807, 
declaring  an  unlimited  embargo,  for  all  the  purposes  of  fo- 
reign commerce,  on  every  port  in  the  Union;  anticipating 
a  large  portion  of  the  injuries  that  might  be  expected  from 
an  open  enemy,  by  inflicting  them  itself! 

This  extraordinary  measure  was  not  avowedly  taken  in 
consequence  of  the  attack  on  the  Chesapeake,  for  the  English 
VOL.  II.— 10 


114  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

government  early  professed  a  readiness  to  atone  for  that 
outrage,  but  it  originated  in  the  feelings  it  engendered.  The 
national  pride  had  been  wounded,  and  the  injury  rankled 
the  deeper,  because  all  intelligent  men  felt  that  the  nation 
was  not  in  a  condition  to  resent  the  insult.  The  squadron 
that  then  lay  in  Lynnhaven,  was  probably  equal  to  blockad- 
ing the  entire  naval  force  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
and  this  too,  it  ought  never  to  be  forgotten,  in  a  country 
that  met  its  current  expenses  and  extinguished  an  ancient 
debt,  with  the  duties  on  its  imports  alone,  which  possessed 
the  amount  of  shipping  already  mentioned,  and  had  nearly 
100,000  registered  seamen. 

Congress  was  convened  on  the  26th  of  October,  and,  as 
soon  as  there  had  been  time  to  deliberate  on  what  had  passed, 
the  president,  by  his  proclamation,  interdicted  all  British 
vessels  of  war  from  entering  the  American  waters.     When 
the  national  legislature  assembled,  a  proposition  to  increase 
the  number  of  gun-boats  was  laid  before  it.     Without  a 
sufficient  naval  force  to  raise  a  blockade  that  should  be 
sustained  by  three  ships  of  the  line;  with  all  the  experience 
of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  fresh  in  their  recollections;  and 
with  the  prospect  of  a  speedy  contest  with  a  people  that 
scarcely  hesitated  about  closing  the  ports  of  the  Union  in 
a  time  of  peace,  the  statesmen  of  the  day  misdirected  the 
resources  of  a  great  and  growing  country,  by  listening  to 
this  proposition,  and  creating  a  species  of  force,  that,  in  its 
nature,  is  merely  auxiliary  to  more  powerful  means,  and 
which  is  as  entirely  unfitted  to  the  moral  character  of  the 
people,  as  it  is  to  the  natural  formation  of  the  coast.   On  the 
18th  of  December,  a  law  was  passed  authorizing  the  con- 
struction of  188  gun-boats,  in  addition  to  those  already 
built,  which  would  raise  the  total  number  of  vessels  of  this 
description  in  the  navy,  to  257.     This  was  the  development 
of  the  much  condemned  "  gun-boat  system,"  which,  for  a 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  115 

short  time,  threatened  destruction  to  the  pride,  discipline, 
tone,  and  even  morals  of  the  service. 

There  can  be  no  question,  that,  in  certain  circumstances, 
vessels  of  this  nature  may  be  particularly  useful,  but  these 
circumstances  are  of  rare  occurrence,  as  they  are  almost 
always  connected  with  attacks  on  towns  and  harbours.  As 
the  policy  is  now  abandoned,  it  is  unnecessary  to  point 
out  the  details,  by  which  it  is  rendered  particularly  unsuita- 
ble to  this  country,  though  there  is  one  governing  principle 
that  may  be  mentioned,  which,  of  itself,  demonstrates  its 
unfitness.  The  American  coast  has  an  extent  of  near  two 
thousand  miles,  and  to  protect  it  by  means  of  gun-boats, 
even  admitting  the  practicability  of  the  method,  would  in- 
volve an  expenditure  sufficient  to  create  a  moveable  force 
in  ships,  that  would  not  only  answer  all  the  same  purposes 
of  defence,  but  which  would  possess  the  additional  advan- 
tage of  acting,  at  need,  offensively.  In  other  words,  it  was 
entailing  on  the  country  the  cost  of  an  efficient  marine, 
without  enjoying  all  its  advantages. 

At  the  time  when  the  laws  of  nations  and  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  were  outraged,  in  the  manner  related  in  the 
preceding  chapter,  the  government  was  empowered  to  em- 
ploy no  more  than  1425  seamen,  ordinary  seamen  and 
boys,  in  all  the  vessels  of  the  navy,  whether  in  commission, 
or  in  ordinary.  The  administration  felt  that  this  number 
was  insufficient  for  the  common  wants  of  the  service,  and 
early  in  1808,  the  secretary  asked  for  authority  to  raise 
1272  additional  men,  to  be  put  on  board  the  gun-boats,  that 
were  now  ready  to  receive  them.  The  necessary  law, 
however,  was  withheld. 

The  near  approach  of  a  war,  that  succeeded  the  attack 
of  the  Leopard,  appears  to  have  admonished  the  English 
government  of  the  necessity  of  using  some  efficient  means 
of  settling  the  long  pending  disputes  between  the  two  na- 
tions, and  negotiations  were  carried  on  during  the  year 


116      .  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

1808,  in  a  temper  that  promised  a  pacific  termination  to 
the  quarrel,  and  in  strict  conformity  with  a  practice,  (it 
would  be  an  abuse  of  terms  to  call  it  a  policy,)  that  has 
long  prevailed  in  the  country,  the  time  that  should  have 
been  actively  employed  in  preparations,  was  irreclaimably 
lost,  in  the  idle  expectation  that  they  would  not  be  needed 
No  act  was  passed,  nor  any  appropriation  made, either  for  the 
employment  of  more  men,  or  for  the  placing  in  commission 
any  additional  vessels,  until  the  last  of  January,  1809,  when 
the  president  was  directed  to  equip  the  United  States  44,-Pre- 
sident  44,  Essex  32,  and  John  Adams  24 ;  the  latter  vessel 
having  been  cut  down  to  a  sloop-of-war.*  By  the  same  law, 
the  navy  was  greatly  increased  in  efficiency,  as  respects  the 
officers  and  men,  the  president  being  authorized  to  appoint 
as  many  additional  midshipmen  as  would  make  a  total  of 
450,  and  to  employ  in  all,  5025  seamen,  ordinary  seamen, 
and  boys.  By  adding  the  remaining  officers,  and  the  ma- 
rine corps,  the  whole  service  could  not  have  contained  a 
total  of  less  than  7000  persons,  when  the  act  was  carried 
into  execution. 

The  equipment  of  the  ships  just  mentioned,  and  the  ac- 
tive employment  of  all  the  small  vessels  of  the  service,  pro- 
bably saved  the  navy  of  the  United  States  from  a  total  dis- 
organization. It  was  the  means  of  withdrawing  a  large 
portion  of  the  officers  from  the  gun-boats,  and  of  renewing 

*  This  ship,  which  was  built  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  has  under- 
gone many  changes.  She  was  constructed  for  a  small  frigate,  carrying 
24  twelves  on  her  gun-deck;  was  then  cut  down  to  a  sloop;  next  raised 
upon  to  be  a  frigate,  and  finally  once  more  cut  down.  It  is  said  that  the 
ship  was  built  by  contract,  and  that  the  original  contractor,  let  out  one 
side  of  her  to  a  sub-contractor,  who,  in  a  spirit  of  economy,  so  much  re- 
duced her  moulds,  that  the  ship  had  actually  several  inches  more  beam  on 
one  side,  than  on  the  other.  As  a  consequence,  she  both  bore  her  can- 
vass, and  sailed  better  on  one  tack  than  on  the  other.  The  John  Adams 
was  rebuilt  entirely,  a  few  years  since  ;  and  the  present  vessel,  is  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  ships  of  her  class,  that  floats. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  117 

that  high  tone  and  admirable  discipline  which  had  distin- 
guished it,  at  the  close  of  the  Tripolitan  war.  By  this  time, 
nearly  all  the  midshipmen  who  had  been  before  Tripoli, 
were  lieutenants;  and  there  was  already  one  instance  in 
which  an  officer,  who  had  entered  the  navy  as  a  midship- 
man, commanded  the  frigate  in  which  he  had  first  served.* 

About  this  time,  too,  the  government  seriously  turned  its 
attention  towards  the  great  lakes,  as  inland  waters  on 
which  its  future  policy  might  render  the  employment  of  ves- 
sels of  war  necessary.  Both  England  and  France  had  used 
cruisers  on  the  great  lakes,  in  the  early  history  of  the  coun- 
try, though  the  settlements  of  the  former  did  not  extend  to 
their  shores,  until  after  the  conquest  of  Canada.  In  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  vessels  were  built  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  by  both  the  belligerents,  though,  in  no  instance,  had 
any  American  naval  officer  ever  yet  been  employed  on  the 
interior  waters.  In  the  course  of  the  summer  of  1808, 
however,  it  was  thought  prudent  to  make  a  commencement 
towards  the  employment  of  a  force  in  that  quarter,  Eng- 
land already  possessing  ships  on  Ontario  and  Erie. 

There  being  no  especial  law  for  such  an  object,  advantage 
was  taken  of  the  discretionary  powers  granted  to  the  presi- 
dent under  the  act  for  building  gun-boats,  for  this  purpose. 
A  few  officers  were  placed  under  the  orders  of  Lieut.  M. 
T.  Woolsey,  and  that  gentleman  was  empowered  to  make 
contracts  for  the  construction  of  three  vessels,  one  of  which 
was  to  be  built  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  the  other  two  on  Lake 
Champlain.  The  two  vessels  construcled  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain  were  merely  ordinary  gun-boats,  but  that  construct- 
ed on  Lake  Ontario  was  a  regular  brig  of  war.  The 
latter  was  of  about  two  hundred  and  forty  tons  measure- 
ment, was  pierced  for  sixteen  guns,  and  when  delivered  by 
the  contractors,  in  the  spring  of  1809,  to  the  sea  officers 

*  Capt.  Dccatur. 

10*  .  Vv 


118  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

ordered  to  receive  her,  she  mounted  16  twenty-four  pound 
carronades.  In  consequence  of  an  arrangement  that  was 
made,  about  this  time,  with  England,  but  which  was  not 
ratified  in  Europe,  this  vessel,  which  was  called  the  Oneida, 
was  not  equipped  and  sent  upon  the  lake  until  the  follow- 
ing year. 

This  was  a  period  of  vacillating  policy  in  both  nations, 
England,  at  times,  appearing  disposed  to  arrange  amica- 
bly the  many  difficult  points  that  had  arisen  with  America, 
and  the  latter  country  acting,  at  moments,  as  if  it  believed 
war  to  be  impossible,  while  at  others,  it  seemed  to  be  in 
earnest  with  its  preparations.  Thus  passed  the  years  1808, 
1809  and  1810,  the  embargo  having  been  raised,  followed, 
by  a  non-intercourse  law  with  Great  Britain,  and  succeeded 
by  an  absence  of  all  restrictions. 

During  these  years  of  doubt,  the  vessels  of  the  navy  that 
were  in  commission,  were  principally  employed  on  the 
coast,  or  they  kept  up  the  communications  with  the  different 
diplomatic  agents  in  Europe,  by  carrying  despatches. 
There  is  no  question  that  these  were  important  years  to  the 
service,  for,  since  the  attack  on  the  Chesapeake,  the  utmost 
vigilance  prevailed,  and  every  commander  watched  jealous- 
ly for  an  opportunity  to  wipe  out  the  disgrace,  real  or  im- 
aginary, of  that  unfortunate  affair.  No  more  vessels  were 
sent  to  the  Mediterranean,  but  the  whole  maritime  force  of 
the  republic  was  kept  at  home.  The  country  had  now  in 
active  service  the  following  vessels,  viz : 

President  44,  Hornet  18, 

Constitution  44,  Argus  16, 

United  States  44,  Siren  16, 

Essex  32,  Nautilus  12, 

John  Adams  24,  Enterprise  12, 

Wasp  18,  Vixen  12, 

In  addition  to  these  cruisers,  were  a  great  number  of 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  119 

gun-boats,  which  were  principally  commanded  by  sailing- 
masters,  who  had  been  selected  from  among  the  officers  of 
merchant  vessels.  The  Nautilus  and  Vixen  had  both  been 
rigged  into  brigs;  the  Enterprise  soon  after  was  altered  in 
the  same  manner,  and  there  proving  an  occasion  to  re- 
build the  Hornet,  she  was  converted  into  a  ship,  and  pierced 
for  two  more  guns,  making  twenty  in  all.  But,  unhappily, 
the  opportunity  was  lost,  of  building  and  equipping  a  force 
that  could  prevent  blockades. 

The  English  increased  their  cruisers  on  the  American 
coast,  in  proportion  to  the  Americans  themselves, 'though 
their  vessels  no  longer  lay  off  the  harbours,  impressing  men, 
and  detaining  ships.  It  was  seldom  that  a  British  cruiser 
was  now  seen  near  the  land,  the  government  probably  cau- 
tioning its  commanders  to  avoid  unnecessary  exhibitions  of 
this  sort,  with  a  view  to  prevent  collisions.  Still  they  were 
numerous,  cruised  at  no  great  distance,  and  by  keeping  up 
constant  communications  between  Bermuda  and  Halifax, 
may  be  said  to  have  intercepted  nearly  every  ship  that 
passed  from  one  hemisphere  to  the  other. 

Such,  in  effect,  was  the  state  of  things  in  the  spring  of  the 
year  1811,  when  information  was  received  by  the  senior 
officer  of  the  navy  afloat,  Com.  Rodgers,  that  a  man  had 
been  impressed  from  an  American  brig,  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  Sandy  Hook,  by  an  English  frigate  that  was 
supposed  to  be  the  Guerriere  38,  Capt.  Dacres.  The  broad 
pennant  of  Com.  Rodgers  was  flying  on  board  the  President 
44,  Capt.  Ludlow,  which  ship  was  then  anchored  off  Anna- 
polis. Repairing  on  board  his  vessel,  he  got  under  way 
with  an  intention  of  proceeding  off  New  York,  to  inquire 
into  the  facts,  on  the  10th  of  May,  passing  the  capes  shortly 
after. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  about  noon,  a  sail  was  made  from 
the  President,  which  ship  was  then  about  six  leagues  from 
the  land,  to  the  southward  of  New  York.  It  was  soon  per- 


120  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

ceived  that  the  stranger  was  a  vessel  of  war,  by  the  square- 
ness of  his  yards,  and  the  symmetry  of  his  sails,  and  the 
American  frigate  stood  for  him,  with  an  intention  to  get  with- 
in hail.  At  2  the  President  set  her  broad  pennant  and  ensign. 
The  stranger  now  made  several  signals,  but  finding  they  were 
not  answered,  he  wore  and  stood  to  the  southward.  Al- 
though the  President  gained  upon  the  chase,  the  wind  les- 
sened, and  night  set  in  before  she  could  get  near  enough  to 
distinguish  her  force.  It  was  past  7  o'clock  in  the  evening 
when  the  stranger  took  in  his  studding-sails,  hauled  up  his 
courses,  and  came  by  the  wind  on  the  starboard  tack. 
He  now  set  an  ensign  at  his  gaff,  but  it  was  too  dark 
to  discover  the  nation.  As  he  came  to  the  wind,  he  neces- 
sarily showed  his  broadside,  and  was  taken  for  a  small 
frigate. 

.The  President  continuing  to  stand  down,  the  chase  wore 
four  several  times,  in  order  to  prevent  the  American  frigate 
from  getting  a  position  to  windward.  It  was  consequently 
near  half  past  8  before  Com.  Rodgers  could  bring  to,  as  he 
had  desired,  on  the  weather  bow  of  the  stranger,  or  a  little 
forward  of  his  beam,  when,  being  within  a  hundred  yards, 
he  hailed,  and  demanded  "  what  ship  is  that?"  No  answer 
was  given  to  this  question,  but  it  was  repeated,  word  for 
word,  from  the  stranger.  After  a  short  pause  the  question 
was  again  put,  when  the  stranger  fired  a  gun,  the  shot 
from  which  cut  away  a  breast-back-stay,  and  entered  the 
main-mast.  Com.  Rodgers  was  on  the  point  of  ordering  a 
shot  to  be  returned,  when  one  of  the  guns  was  discharged 
from  the  second  division  of  the  President.  The  stranger 
now  fired  three  guns  in  quick  succession,  and  then,  after  a 
short  pause,  the  remainder  of  his  broadside  and  all  his  mus- 
ketry. The  President,  as  a  matter  of  course,  delivered  her 
broadside  in  return.  In  a  few  minutes,  however,  it  was 
perceived  on  board  the  American  vessel,  that  they  were  en- 
gaged with  an  adversary  so  inferior  as  to  render  her  resist- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  121 

ance  very  feeble,  and  orders  were  sent  to  the  different  divi- 
sions to  stop  their  fire. 

The  guns  of  the  President  were  soon  silent,  when,  to  the 
surprise  of  all  on  board  her,  the  stranger  opened  anew.  The 
fire  of  the  American  frigate  recommenced,  but  it  was  again 
stopped  in  the  course  of  a  very  few  minutes,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  crippled  condition  of  her  antagonist,  who  lay 
nearly  end  on,  and  apparently  unmanageable.  The  Ameri- 
can now  hailed  again,  and  got  an  answer  that  her  adversa- 
ry was  a  British  ship  of  war,  though  the  name  was  inaudi- 
ble, on  account  of  the  wind,  which  had  increased.  Satisfied 
that  his  late  opponent  was  disabled,  and  having  no  desire  to 
do  more  than  had  already  been  accomplished,  Com.  Rodgers 
gave  the  name  of  his  own  ship,  wore  round,  and  running  a 
short  distance  to  leeward,  he  hauled  by  the  wind  again, 
with  a  view  to  remain  nigh  the  English  vessel  during  the 
night.  The  President  kept  lights  displayed,  in  order  to  let 
her  late  antagonist  know  her  position,  and  wore  several 
times  to  remain  near  her. 

When  the  day  dawned  the  English  ship  was  discovered 
some  distance  to  leeward,  her  drift  in  the  night  having  been 
considerable.  The  President  bore  up  under  easy  canvass, 
and  running  down  to  her,  a  boat  was  lowered,  and  Mr. 
Creighton,  the  first  lieutenant,  was  sent  on  board,  with  an 
offer  of  services.  The  stranger  proved  to  be  his  Britannic 
majesty's  ship  Little  Belt  18,  Capt.  Bingham.  The  Little 
Belt  was  a  vessel  of  twenty-two  guns,  but  having  a  light  spar- 
deck  above,  on  which  no  guns  were  mounted,  she  had  the 
external  appearance  of  a  small  frigate.  She  had  suffered 
severely  by  the  fire  of  the  President,  and  thirty-one  of  her 
people  had  been  killed  and  wounded.  As  Capt.  Bingham 
declined  receiving  any  assistance,  the  vessels  parted,  each 
making  the  best  of  her  way  to  a  port  of  her  own  nation. 

This  occurrence  gave  rise  to  much  angry  discussion  in 
America,  and  widened  the  breach  which  already  existed 


122  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

between  the  English  and  the  American  nations.  The  ac- 
count given  hy  Capt.  Bingham  differed  essentially  from  that 
of  Com.  Rodgers,  and  official  investigations  were  made  on 
both  sides.  On  that  of  the  Americans  a  formal  court  of  in- 
quiry was  held,  and  every  officer  that  was  in  the  ship  was  ex- 
amined, as  well  as  a  great  many  of  the  petty  officers.  The 
testimony  was  very  clear,  and  it  was  in  a  great  measure 
free  from  the  discrepancies  that  usually  distinguish  ac- 
counts of  battles,  whether  by  sea,  or  by  land.  The  fact  that 
the  Little  Belt  fired  the  first  gun  was  established  by  the  oath 
of  the  officer  who  ordered  the  gun  fired  in  return,  as  this 
gentleman  distinctly  testified  that  he  gave  the  command, 
under  a  standing  order  of  the  ship,  and  in  consequence  of 
having  seen  the  flash  and  heard  the  report  of  the  Little 
Belt's  gun.  He  not  only  testified  that  he  heard  the  report 
of  the  gun,  but  that  he  also  heard  the  noise  made  by  the 
shot  which  had  entered  the  mast.  Other  officers  and  men 
corroborated  this  account,  and  in  a  way  to  render  their  evi- 
dence not  only  consistent  with  itself,  but  with  probability. 
As  the  President  was  very  fully  officered,  the  number  and 
respectability  of  the  witnesses,  put  all  cavilling  about  the 
facts,  at  rest  in  the  country. 

It  is  believed  that  there  was  no  proper  court  of  inquiry 
held  on  the  conduct  of  Capt.  Bingham,  though  affidavits  of 
most  of  his  officers  were  published.  By  that  officer's  official 
account,  as  it  has  been  given  to  the  world,  as  well  as  by  the 
affidavits  mentioned,  it  is  affirmed  that  the  President  com- 
menced the  action  by  firing,  not  a  single  gun,  but  an  entire 
broadside.  He  also  intimated  that  the  action  lasted  three 
quarters  of  an  hour,  and  appeared  desirous  of  leaving  the 
impression  that  the  President  had  sheered  ofT. 

As  between  the  two  governments,  the  question  was  re- 
duced to  one  of  veracity.  If  the  account  of  the  American 
officer  was  true,  that  of  the  English  officer  was  untrue;  and 
if  the  account  of  the  English  officer  was  true,  that  of  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  123 

American  officer  was  untrue.  Both  governments,  as  com- 
monly happens,  seeming  disposed  to  believe  its  own  officers. 
Contrary  to  what  might  have  been  expected,  no  political 
consequences  followed  this  rencontre.  The  President  sus- 
tained little  injury,  no  round  shot,  besides  the  one  in  her 
main-mast  and  another  in  her  foremast,  having  struck  her, 
and,  of  her  people,  one  boy  alone  was  slightly  wounded  by 
a  musket  ball.  The  Little  Belt,  on  the  other  hand,  having 
suffered  even  out  of  proportion  to  the  disparity  of  force 
between  the  vessels,  the  American  government  was  satis- 
fied with  the  punishment  already  inflicted  on  the  assailants; 
while  the  English  government  could  not  well  demand  re- 
paration without  demanding  that  the  American  functiona- 
ries would  not  believe  their  own  officer.  After  some  com- 
munications on  the  subject,  and  an  exchange  of  the  testimo- 
ny that  had  been  given,  nothing  further  appears  to  have 
been  done,  or  contemplated,  by  either  government. 

Not  so,  however,  with  the  people  of  the  two  nations.  In 
England  the  account  of  Capt.  Bingham  was  generally  be- 
lieved, and  it  served  to  increase  a  dislike  that  was  so  little 
concealed  as  to  attract  general  comment.  In  America 
there  were  two  parties,  one  of  which  as  blindly  defend- 
ed, perhaps,  as  the  other  blindly  condemned  their  own 
officer.  A  strong,  feeling  existed  in  the  towns,  and  among 
a  large  portion  of  the  rural  population,  in  favour  of 
what  was  called  the  English  cause,  as  the  struggles  of 
Great  Britain  were  connected  with  the  general  war,  and 
party  feeling  had  blinded  so  many  to  the  truth,  that  the 
country  had  a  great  number  of  persons  who,  without  stop- 
ping to  examine  into  facts,  were  disposed  to  believe  their 
own  government  and  all  its  agents  wrong,  whenever  they 
came  at  all  in  collision  with  that  of  England.  This  portion 
of  the  community,  influenced  by  the  remains  of  colonial  de- 
pendence, fostered  by  the  prejudices  and  influence  of  En- 
glish merchants  settled  in  the  towns,  and  strengthened  by 


124  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  acrimony  of  party,  \vas  bitter  in  its  denunciations 
against  Com.  Rodgers,  and  it  may  be  doubted  if  that  officer 
ever  regained,  in  the  public  estimation,  the  standing  that 
was  lost  by  means  so  equivocal.  They  who  judge  of  mili- 
tary life  merely  by  its  brilliancy  and  parade,  in  moments 
of  display,  know  little  of  the  privations  of  the  soldier  and 
sailor.  Obliged  to  live  under  laws  that  are  peculiar  to  him- 
self, weighed  down  with  a  responsibility  that  makes  no  show 
to  casual  observers,  and  placed  in  situations  to  decide  and 
act  in  cases  in  which  the  principles  are  contested  even  by 
the  most  acute  minds,  the  officer  of  rank  is  entitled  to  re- 
ceive every  indulgence  which  comports  with  justice  and 
reason.  Most  of  all  ought  he  to  be  protected  against  the  ca- 
lumnies and  assaults  of  the  enemy,  and  of  the  disaffected  of 
his  own  nation.  That  his  country's  enemies  should  assail 
him  wrongfully,  though  unjustifiable,  is  perhaps  to  be  ex- 
pected; but  when  the  blow  comes  from  those  who  should 
ever  listen  coldly  to  hostile  accusations,  bitter  indeed  is  the 
draught  that  he  is  made  to  swallow. 

In  the  case  of  Com.  Rodgers,  much  sophistry,  in  addition 
to  some  arguments  that  were  not  without  their  force,  was 
used  to  show  that  he  was  wrong  in  chasing  the  Little  Belt, 
and  in  not  answering  her  hail,  instead  of  insisting  on  re- 
ceiving a  reply  to  his  own.  As  the  case  is  connected  with 
general  principles  that  are  in  constant  use  in  the  inter- 
course between  vessels,  it  may  be  useful  to  give  them  a 
brief  examination. 

Those  who  condemned  Com.  Rodgers,  insisted  that  it  was 
the  duty  of  a  neutral  not  to  chase  a  belligerent,  but  to  submit 
to  be  chased  by  her;  and,  as  a  neutral  could  have  no  induce- 
ment to  conceal  her  name,  he  was  bound  to  make  a  prompt 
answer  when  hailed  by  the  Little  Belt,  the  latter  being  a 
belligerent.  These  two  positions  were  supported  by  quo- 
tations from  some  of  the  writers  on  international  law,  who 
have  laid  down  opinions  to  this  effect. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  125 

The  laws  of  nations  are  merely  a  set  of  rules  that  have 
grown  out  of  necessity,  and  which,  like  the  common  law, 
are  founded  in  reason.  The  received  commentators  on  this 
code,  while  they  have  confined  themselves  to  principles, 
have  been  remarkable  for  their  knowledge,  and  the  justice 
of  their  deductions;  but,  in  many  cases  in  which  they  have 
descended  to  details,  they  betray  the  ignorance  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  mere  man  of  theory,  from  him  who  has 
been  taught  in  the  school  of  practice.  Without  the  right  to 
chase,  a  vessel  of  war  would  be  perfectly  useless  in  a  time 
of  peace,  and  pirates,  smugglers,  mutineers,  and  even  those 
vessels  which,  by  being  subject  to  the  laws  of  the  same 
country,  are  properly  amenable  to  the  supervision  of  a  man 
of  war,  would  escape  by  steering  in  a  direction  different 
from  that  of  the  cruiser.  No  military  duty,  whatever,  could 
be  discharged  at  sea,  without  the  right  to  chase ;  nor  is  it 
usual  among  seamen,  to  consider  the  mere  act  of  chasing 
an  act  of  hostility.  Vessels  chase  each  other,  even  when 
the  object  is  to  ask  succour,  nor  is  it  possible  to  deliver  de- 
spatches, to  communicate  news,  to  ask  for  information,  or 
to  do  any  thing  which  requires  that  ships  should  be  near 
each  other,  without  chasing,  when  one  of  the  parties  sees 
fit  to  steer  in  a  wrong  direction. 

Neither  is  the  right  to  hail  a  purely  belligerent  right, 
since,  like  the  right  to  chase,  it  is  clearly  a  step  in  communi- 
cating, after  vessels  are  near  enough  to  speak.  If  a  hail 
necessarily  brought  a  true  answer,  there  would  be  more 
reason  in  bestowing  the  right  on  belligerents,  though  even 
in  that  case,  it  would  be  easy  to  cite  instances  in  which  it 
would  be  useless.  There  may  be  many  wars  at  the  same 
time,  and  belligerents  that  are  neutrals  as  respects  each 
other  might  meet  on  the  high  seas,  and  if  both  parties 
stood  on  their  abstract  right  to  hail,  a  combat  would  be  in- 
evitable. Belligerents  are  properly  invested  with  no  exclu- 
sive privilegesi  that  are  not  in  their  nature  reasonable,  and 
VOL.  II.— ll' 


126  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

which  bring  with  them  direct  and  useful  consequences. 
Thus  the  right  to  hail,  without  a  right  to  insist  on  a  true  an- 
swer, is  a  perfectly  negative  privilege,  and  it  will  not  be 
pretended  that  ships  will  not  answer  as  they  may  see  expe- 
dient at  the  moment.  So  far  from  the  answer  to  a  hail's 
bringing  with  it  any  necessary  advantage  to  the  party 
hailing,  in  time  of  war  it  is  often  the  means  of  placing  the 
latter  in  a  worse  situation  than  he  would  be  without  resort- 
ing to  the  hail  at  all.  Such  was  the  fact  in  the  case  of  the 
Philadelphia,  the  people  of  which  ship  were  lulled  into  a  fa- 
tal security  by  the  answer  received  to  their  hail.  In  short, 
as  the  right  to  hail  brings  with  it  no  necessary  advantage,  it 
is  folly  to  attribute  it  to  any  party  as  an  exclusive  privilege. 
Vessels  of  war  must  ascertain  which  are  enemies,  and 
which  are  neutrals,  in  the  best  manner  they  can,  as  civil 
officers  are  compelled  to  look  out  the  individuals  they 
would  arrest  in  society,  it  being  certain  that  both  foes  and 
debtors  will  deceive  those  who  seek  them,  if  there  is  a  mo- 
tive and  an  opportunity. 

But  the  vindication  of  Com.  Rodgers'  course  is  by  no 
means  limited  to  this  argument.  He  was  cruising  on  his 
own  coast,  where  it  was  the  peculiar  province  of  a  vessel 
of  war  to  exercise  vigilance,  and  particularly  to  be  on  the 
alert,  lest  the  belligerents  themselves  exceeded  their  powers. 
Neutrals  are  by  no  means  destitute  of  rights  of  this  impor- 
tant nature.  It  was  known  that  the  English  cruisers  were 
in  the  practice  of  seizing  American  vessels  on  pretences 
that  were  not  recognized  by  international  law,  and  of  even 
impressing  seamen  under  a  regulation  that  was  purely  mu- 
nicipal, and  which,  so  far  from  being  in  accordance  with 
the  laws  of  nations,  was  not  only  opposed  to  them,  but 
which  was  a  direct  violation  of  national  rights,  of  common 
sense,  reason,  and  natural  justice.  This  was  not  all;  in 
executing  this  municipal  law  on  the  high  seas,  they  even 
exceeded  the  limits  acknowledged  by  themselves,  and  were 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  127 

in  the  constant  practice  of  carrying  off  Americans,  and 
seamen  of  other  nations,  from  American  ships,  as  well  as 
the  subjects  of  the  British  crown.  As  it  is  clearly  the  ge- 
neral duty  of  the  commander  of  an  American  vessel  of 
war,  to  prevent  the  violation  of  the  laws  of  nations,  when- 
ever it  is  in  his  power,  unless  expressly  ordered  by  his  own 
government  not  to  interfere,  it  was  more  particularly  the 
duty  of  such  a  commander  to  be  vigilant,  and  to  prevent 
these  abuses  on  his  own  coast.  No  English  vessel  of  war 
would  hesitate  an  instant,  in  preventing  impressment  from  a 
merchant  ship  of  his  nation,  nor  should  any  American.  The 
American  commander  of  a  public  ship,  who  should  pas- 
sively witness  an  impressment  from  a  merchant  vessel  of  his 
own  nation,  unless  restrained  by  his  orders,  would  deserve 
to  be  cashiered.  As  connected  solely  with  public  law' and 
general  justice,  there  can  be  no  question  that  the  commander 
of  a  vessel  of  war,  who  knew  that  a  countryman  had  been 
impressed  by  a  ship  of  another  nation,  would  have  a  per- 
fect right  to  pursue  that  ship,  and,  at  need,  to  liberate  the 
man  by  force.  That  high  considerations  of  policy  have 
hitherto  prevented  the  American  government  from  issuing 
orders  to  that  effect,  or  have  induced  it  to  issue  orders  of  a 
contrary  nature,  in  no  degree  impairs  a  right  which  is  con- 
nected with  one  of  the  principal  objects  for  which  vessels 
of  war  are  kept  afloat,  the  protection  of  the  person  and 
property  of  the  citizen,  when  beyond  the  reach  of  local 
authority.  How  far  Com.  Rodgers  was  authorized  to  act 
in  this  manner,  by  his  own  government,  or  whether  he  was 
prohibited  from  interfering  at  all  on  motives  of  policy,  does 
not  appear;  and  we  are  bound  to  believe  that  every  officer 
is  disposed  to  do  his  whole  duty.  As  the  subject  is  con- 
nected with  the  causes  of  quarrel  which,  shortly  after  the 
rencontre  between  the  President  and  Little  Belt,  produced  a 
war  between  the  two  countries,  this  may  be  a  proper  place 


128  IT  AVAL  HISTORY. 

to  make  a  further  allusion  to  the  occurrences  and  claims 
that  brought  about  that  important  event. 

From  the  period  of  the  commencement  of  the  general 
war  in  Europe,  the  American  commerce  had  been  exposed 
to  a  series  of  decrees,  orders  in  council,  blockades  and 
constructions  of  belligerent  rights  that  were  entirely  novel, 
both  in  principles  and  practice,  and  which,  in  the  end,  rest- 
ed on  a  justification  no  better  than  a  determination  to  re- 
taliate for  the  wrongs  done  to  neutrals  through  the  hostile 
nation,  by  punishing  the  sufferer.  It  is  unnecessary  to  add, 
that  Great  Britain  and  France  were  the  nations  that  pur- 
sued this  high-handed  and  illegal  policy,  unduly  subjecting 
all  the  rest  of  Christendom  to  the  consequences  of  their 
quarrels.  In  this  strife  in  injustice,  there  was  not  any  es- 
sential difference  in  the  conduct  of  the  two  great  belliger- 
ents, so  far  as  principle  was  concerned,  though  England 
was  enabled  to  do  America  much  the  most  harm,  in  con- 
sequence of  her  superior  power  on  the  ocean. 

To  the  wrongs  inflicted  on  the  American  commerce,  by 
means  of  her  illegal  blockades  and  forced  constructions  of 
colonial  privileges,  England,  however,  added  the  intolera- 
ble outrage  of  impressment  from  on  board  American  ves- 
sels on  the  high  seas. 

The  government  of  England  claims  a  right,  by  prescrip- 
tion, to  require  the  services  of  all  its  own  seamen,  as  well 
as  those  of  all  subjects  who  may  be  deemed  vagabonds, 
for  the  royal  navy,  in  a  time  of  war.  Some  exceptions  are 
made  in  favour  of  apprentices  and  others,  either  by  statutes 
or  by  concessions  from  the  administration,  but  these  do  not 
impair  the  principle.  That  communities  have  a  legal  right 
to  make  any  regulations  of  this  nature  is  not  disputed, 
though  in  exercising  privileges  that  the  usages  of  mankind 
tolerate,  nothing  is  easier  than  to  offend  against  natural 
justice  and  the  laws  of  God.  It  is  evident,  in  the  first  place, 
that  a  law,  or  a  usage,  which  compels  a  particular  portion 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  129 

of  society  to  serve  on  board  ships,  for  an  unlimited  period, 
without  reciprocity  as  regards  their  fellow-subjects,  and 
for  a  compensation  determined  by  the  state,  is  founded  in 
injustice.  England  may  find  her  justification  for  the  prac- 
tice in  her  necessities,  perhaps,  though  necessity  is  but  a 
poor  apology  for  any  moral  wrong,  but  it  cannot  be  se- 
riously contended  that  she  has  a  right  to  make  another  peo- 
ple an  accessary,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  the  oppression. 
In  considering  the  purely  legal  question,  this  moral  consid- 
eration should  never  be  lost  sight  of. 

Admitting,  in  the  fullest  extent,  the  right  of  a  nation  to 
impress  its  own  citizens  or  subjects,  it  is,  in  no  manner,  a 
belligerent  right.  The  fact  that  it  claims  no  power  to  ex- 
ercise the  practice  in  a  time  of  peace,  does  not  give  the 
latter,  in  the  least,  the  character  of  a  belligerent  right, 
since  all  belligerent  rights  are  deducible  from  international 
law,  whereas  the  authority  to  impress  is  derived  solely  from 
the  government  in  which  the  practice  exists.  That  Eng- 
land exercises  the  power  to  impress  only  in  a  time  of 
war,  is  dependent  on  her  own  will,  whereas  a  belligerent 
right  would  be  altogether  independent  of  local  control. 
It  is  just  as  competent  for  the  parliament  of  Great  Britain 
to  say  it  will  impress  in  a  time  of  peace,  as  it  is  to  permit 
impressment  in  time  of  war,  or  for  it  to  except  certain 
classes  from  the  operation  of  the  practice.  The  king  of 
England,  according  to  the  theory  of  the  British  constitu- 
tion, makes  war,  and  it  is  the  king  who  requires  the  ser- 
vices of  this  particular  class  of  his  subjects;  and  if  he  thus 
requires  them  under  the  law  of  nations,  the  parliament  has 
no  power  to  curtail  his  authority.  In  passing  a  law  to  ex- 
empt any  portion  of  the  community  from  impressment,  the 
English  government  itself  admits  that  the  authority  to  im- 
press, is  derived  from  municipal,  and  not  from  international 
law.  The  only  privilege  conferred  by  the  usages  of  na- 
tions, in  connexion  with  this  practice,  is  the  permission  for 

11* 


130  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

each  country  to  make  its  own  municipal  regulations ;  and 
in  granting  to  England  the  right  to  impress  her  own  sea- 
men, they  also  grant  to  America  the  right  to  say  that  no 
impressment  shall  take  place  under  the  American  flag. 

The  fact,  however,  that  impressment  is  local  and  not  a 
general  right,  is  independent  of  all  ex  parte  admissions,  or 
narrow  regulations.  There  must  be  an  entire  reciprocity,  in 
the  nature  of  things,  in  all  international  law;  and  no  country 
that  in  the  least  defers  to  natural  justice,  can  devote  a  par- 
ticular class  of  its  people  to  a  compulsory  service  in  vessels 
of  war.  It  follows  as  necessary  consequences,  that  the 
monstrous  doctrine  must  be  asserted,  that  one  nation  shall 
not  respect  natural  justice  in  its  laws,  because  it  is  not 
convenient  for  all  other  nations  to  imitate  it  ;  that  recipro- 
city is  not  necessary  to  international  law  ;  or  that  impress- 
ment is  strictly  a  national  and  not  an  international  regula- 
tion. For  a  particular  people  to  pretend  to  legislate  on, 
or  to  qualify,  in  any  mariner,  a  right  derived  from  the 
laws  of  nations,  is  an  insult  to  the  community  of  nations, 
since  it  is  arrogating  to  themselves  a  power  to  control 
that  which  is  only  dependent  on  common  consent. 

If  it  be  admitted  that  the  right  to  impress  is  solely  a  mu- 
nicipal power,  it  follows  inevitably  that  it  cannot  legally  be 
practised  on  the  high  seas,  on  board  of  vessels  of  a  nation 
different  from  that  of  the  party  claiming  to  exercise  the 
authority.  No  principle  is  better  settled  than  that,  which 
declares  a  ship,  for  all  the  purposes  of  municipal  law,  to 
be  solely  within  the  jurisdiction  of  her  own  flag,  while  out 
of  all  territorial  jurisdiction.  England  might  just  as  legally 
claim  to  arrest  persons  for  treason,  poaching,  or  crime  of 
any  sort,  on  board  American  vessels  on  the  high  seas,  as 
to  claim  a  right  to  impress  even  her  own  seamen.  Both 
cases  would  be  an  attempt  to  extend  the  jurisdiction  of  one 
people  over  the  authority  of  another. 

Although,  as  a  general  rule,  impressment  and  the  seizure 


If  AVAL  HISTORY.  131 

of  criminals,  on  board  American  vessels  on  the  high  seas, 
would  be  an  equal  violation  of  public  and  municipal  law,  as 
a  particular  grievance  the  former  practice  would  give 
more  just  ground  of  complaint  than  the  latter.  The  arrest 
of  a  criminal  merely  invades  the  jurisdiction  and  offends 
the  sovereignty  of  a  people,  while  impressment  inflicts  a 
serious  practical  evil,  by  depriving  ships  of  their  crews,  at 
a  moment  when  they  have  the  greatest  need  of  them.  Did 
England  actuall  y  possess  the  right  to  take  her  seamen  on 
the  high  seas,  America,  under  those  general  principles  that 
pervade  all  law,  whether  public  or  private,  would  have  a 
claim  to  insist  that  her  right  should  be  exercised  in  a  way 
to  do  her  the  least  possible  injury. 

Such  are  the  general  principles  that  touch  the  case.  An 
examination  of  the  subordinate  facts  leaves  England  still 
less  justification  for  the  practice  she  asserts.  In  the  first 
place,  that  country  contends  that  America  gives  employ- 
ment to  a  large  number  of  British  subjects  in  her  mercan- 
tile and  her  public  marine.  This  is1  true;  but  England  does 
the  same  as  respects  all  other  nations.  During  the  general 
wars,  the  merchant  vessels  of  Great  Britain  receive  sea- 
men from  all  parts  of  the  worldy  and  probably  one  half  of 
those  thus  employed  are  foreigners,  Americans  included. 
Not  only  are  volunteers  of  all  nations  received  in  her  ships 
of  war,  but  frequently  men  are  impressed  who  have  pot  the 
smallest  personal,  or  national,  similitude  to  English  sub- 
jects. It  is  true,  that  England  never  asserted  a  right  to 
take  any  but  her  own  subjects,  on  the  high  seas  or  else- 
where, but  it  is  equally  true  that,  in  exercising  the  right 
she  claims,  her  agents  have  impressed  thousands  of  native 
Americans.*  The  excuse  for  taking  these  men,  was  the 

*  It  has  been  satisfactorily  ascertained  that  the  number  of  impressed 
Americans  on  board  British  ships  of  war,  was  seldom  less  than  the  entire 
number  of  seamen  in  the  American  navy,  between  the  years  1802  and 


132  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

difficulty  of  distinguishing  between  an  English  and  an 
American  sailor,  by  mere  external  evidence.  This  diffi- 
culty, of  itself,  is  an  additional  reason  why  England  should 
hesitate  about  resorting  to  the  practice,  even  admitting  the 
right  to  exist,  since  it  is  a  governing  principle  that  qualifies 
the  exercise  of  every  right,  that  it  is  not  to  be  used  affirma- 
tively, to  the  prejudice  of  third  parties. 

That  England  may  need  the  services  of  her  seamen,  in 
no  manner  entitles  her  to  violate  neutral  privileges  to  obtain 
them.  Such  a  doctrine  would  authorize  a  belligerent  na- 
tion, in  its  extremity,  to  rob  the  treasury  of  a  neutral,  in 
order  to  pay  its  troops.  The  attempt  which  has  been  made 
to  liken  the  necessities  of  states  to  the  necessities  of  indi- 
viduals, in  connexion  with  this  subject,  involves  a  violation 
of  all  principle,  and  there  is  no  just  similitude  between 
the  cases.  The  man  who  is  starving  probably  commits  no 
moral  crime,  when  he  takes  food  that  does  not  belong  to 
him,  after  having  exhausted  all  the  legal  means  of  procur- 
ing nourishment  that  are  in  his  power,  sinct  in  all  respects 
he  yields  to  an  imperious  natural  necessity;  but  the  nation 
that  pleads  necessity  for  its  violations  of  natural  and  legal 
rights,  is  merely  upholding  artificial  interests,  and  those  too 
that  are  often  unjust  in  themselves,  by  artificial  expedients. 
We  may  not  censure  the  drowning  man  who  fastens  upon 
our  legs,  but  no  one  will  dispute  our  right  to  shake  him  off. 

Expediency  has  no  necessary  connexion  with  right ;  but 
if  the  necessities  of  England  are  to  be  used  as  an  argument 
in  favour  of  her  doctrine  of  impressment,  so  may  ne- 
cessity be  used  against  it  on  the  part  of  America.  The 
first  is  a  country  with  an  overflowing  population,  among 
whom  men  are  driven  to  obtain  livelihoods  in  the  best  man- 
ner they  can.  Thus,  in  time  of  peace,  the  excess  of  sea- 

1812.  At  the  declaration  of  war  in  1812,  the  number  that  was  turned 
over  to  the  prison  ships  for  refusing1  to  fight  against  their  own  country,  is 
said  to  have  exceeded  two  thousand. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  133 

men,  in  Great  Britain,  drives  them  abroad  to  seek  employ- 
ment, and  they  have  the  effect  to  keep  the  American  on 
shore,  by  lowering  prices.  As  a  consequence,  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  men  in  American  ships  are  English  sailors,  who, 
under  the  doctrine  of  England,  are  all  liable  to  be  reclaimed 
for  the  service  of  that  country,  in  a  time  of  war.  This 
system  is  evidently  rendering  the  American  mercantile  ma- 
rine a  nursery  for  English  seamen,  and  converting  a  legiti- 
mate means  of  national  force,  into  a  scheme  for  destroying  it. 
The  principles  that  control  this  interest,  are  of  a  very 
simple  character.  Each  nation  has  a  right  to  make  its  own 
municipal  ordinances,  and  the  country  that  claims  the  ser- 
vices of  its  seamen,  is  bound  to  extend  its  regulations  so  far 
as  to  keep  that  class  of  its  subjects  within  its  own  jurisdic- 
tion, or  to  incur  the  risk  of  having  its  claim  defeated,  by  the 
conflicting  rights  of  other  states* 


134  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


IT  has  been  seen  that  no  consequences,  beyond  an  in- 
creased alienation  between  the  two  countries,  followed 
the  rencontre  between  the  President  and  Little  Belt.  Al- 
though the  American  navy  could  not  exult  in  a  victory 
over  a  force  as  inferior  as  that  of  the  English  vessel,  it  did 
not  fail  to  make  comparisons  between  the  effect  of  the  fire 
of  their  own  frigate,  and  that  of  the  Leopard,  in  the  attack 
on  the  Chesapeake.  In  both  cases  the  water  was  sufficiently 
smooth,  and  the  trifling  resistance  made  by  the  Little  Belt 
was  so  much  against  the  chances  of  the  President,  as  the 
Chesapeake  made  no  resistance  at  all.  Close  observers 
noted  the  important  fact,  that  the  English  ship,  in  twelve 
minutes'  unresisted  firing,  killed  and  wounded  but  twenty-one 
persons  among  a  frigate's  ship-company,  while  the  Ameri- 
can vessel,  in  a  firing  of  but  six  or  eight  minutes,  had  killed 
and  wounded  thirty-one,  on  board  a  sloop  of  war.* 

Not  long  after  the  meeting  between  the  President  and 
Little  Belt,  the  United  States  44,  bearing  the  broad  pen- 
nant of  Com.  Decatur  fell  in  with  the  Euryalus  and  Atalanta 
British  ships  off  New  York,  and,  while  the  commanders 
were  hailing,  one  of  the  seamen  of  the  former  vessel,  in  care- 
lessly handling  the  lanyard  of  his  lock,  fired  a  gun.  The  rea- 
der will  learn  in  this  fact,  the  high  state  of  preparation  that 

*  In  consequence  of  the  President's  forging-  ahead,  her  forward  guns 
were  not  all  fired  the  second  time. 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  135 

then  prevailed  in  an  American  man-of-war,  the  lock  having 
been  cocked,  and  every  thing  in  perfect  readiness  to  com- 
mence ah  action,  at  a  moment's  notice.  Happily  both  par- 
ties were  cool  and  discreet,  and  proper  explanations  having 
been  made,  the  English  commander  was  entirely  satisfied 
that  no  insult,  or  assault,  was  intended. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  year  1811,  and  the  com- 
mencement of  that  of  1812,  the  public  ships  were  kept 
actively  cruising  on  the  coast,  as  before,  or  they  were 
employed  in  communicating  with  the  different  diplomatic 
agents  in  Europe.  While  in  England,  on  such  service,  an 
occurrence  took  place  on  board  the  Essex  32,  Capt.  Smith, 
that  is  worthy  of  being  recorded,  as  proving  that  something 
more  than  American  artifices  were  at  the  bottom  of  the 
reluctance  of  the  English  seamen  to  serve  in  their  own  ves- 
sels of  war. 

It  was  accidentally  ascertained  that  one  of  the  Essex's 
crew  was  a  deserter  from  a  British  man-of-war,  and  he  was 
formally  demanded.  Being  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Great 
Britain,  Capt.  Smith,  an  officer  of  great  spirit  and  of  a  high 
reputation  in  the  service,  did  not  feel  himself  justified  in 
refusing  to  deliver  up  the  seaman.  The  man  protested  that 
he  was  an  American,  and  that  he  had  not  entered  volun- 
tarily into  the  English  service,  though  he  did  not  deny  his 
identity  and  the  desertion.  It  being  thought  impossible  to 
protect  him,  the  seaman  was  sent  below  to  get  his  clothes, 
and  obeyed.  On  reaching  the  gun-deck,  his  eye  fell  upon 
the  carpenter's  bench,  and  going  to  it,  he  seized  an  axe,  and 
at  one  blow  cut  off  his  left  hand.  Taking  up  the  severed 
limb  in  the  remaining  hand,  he  went  upon  the  quarter-deck, 
and  presented  himself  to  the  British  officer,  bleeding  and 
maimed.  The  latter  left  the  Essex,  shocked  and  astonished, 
while  the  affair  made  a  deep  impression  on  all  who  witness- 
ed it. 

About  this  time,  the  Constitution  44,   Capt.   Hull,  was 


136  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

, 

sent  to  Europe,  having  on  board  specie  for  the  payment 
of  the  interest  on  the  debt  due  in  Holland.  After  touch- 
ing at  Cherbourg,  the  Constitution  went  off  the  Texel,  and 
landing  her  money,  though  not  without  great  difficulty,  in 
consequence  of  the  roughness  of  the  weather,  and  the  great 
distrust  of  those  on  shore,  who  were  closely  blockaded  by 
the  English,  she  proceeded  to  Portsmouth,  where  she  re- 
mained a  few  days,  in  order  to  communicate  with  the  lega- 
tion at  London. 

Having  despatched  his  business  in  England,  Capt.  Hull 
sailed  for  France.  The  day  succeeding  the  night  on  which 
the  Constitution  left  Portsmouth,  several  sail  of  English 
men-of-war  were  seen  in  chase,  and  as  there  had  been 
some  difficulty  about  deserters  while  in  port,*  it  was  the 

*  While  lying  at  anchor  in  the  roads,  a  man  let  himself  into  the  water, 
and  swam  with  the  tide  to  the  Madagascar  frigate,  which  was  lying  di- 
rectly aste,rn  of  the  Constitution.  The  deserter  was  too  much  exhausted 
when  first  taken  up,  to  state  his  object,  and  the  Madagascar  sent  a  boat 
to  acquaint  the  officers  of  the  Constitution  that  one  of  their  men  had  fal- 
len overboard,  and  had  been  picked  up  by  that  ship.  Accordingly,  a 
cutter  was  sent  in  the  morning  to  procure  the  man,  when  the  officer  was 
told  that  he  had  claimed  protection  as  an  Englishman,  and  that  he  had 
been  sent  on  board  the  guard-ship.  Capt.  Hull  was  not  on  board  at  the 
time,  and  Mr.  Morris,  the  first  lieutenant,  sought  an  interview  with  Sir 
Roger  Curtis,  the  admiral  then  in  command  at  Portsmouth.  Mr.  Morris 
was  very  politely  received,  and  he  stated  his  errand.  The  admiral  in- 
formed Mr.  Morris,  that  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  give  up  a  deserter  who 
claimed  to  be  a  British  subject.  "Have  you  any  evidence,  Sir  Roger, 
beyond  the  man's  own  word,  that  he  is  actually  an  Englishman  ?"  "  None 
whatever,  sir,  but  we  are  obliged  to  take  his  declaration  to  that  effect." 
Nothing  remained  for  the  American  officer  but  to  return  on  board  his 
own  ship. 

That  night  extra  sentinels  were  posted,  with  positive  orders  to  fire  at 
any  thing  that  might  be  seen  floating  near  the  ship.  About  midnight  two 
or  three  muskets  were  discharged,  and,  on  inquiry,  it  was  found  that 
there  was  a  man  in  the  water  close  along  side.  A  boat  was  lowered,  and 
it  brought  on  board  a  seaman  of  the  Madagascar,  who  had  contrived  to 
buoy  himself  up  by  means  of  some  shells  of  blocks,  and,  profiting  by  a 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  137 

impression  on  board  the  American  ship  that  the  vessels 
were  sent  in  pursuit.  The  Constitution  outsailed  all  the 
strangers  but  one,  a  frigate  that  weathered  upon  her. 
After  leading  this  ship  a  long  distance  ahead  of  the  others, 

turn  in  the  tide,  to  drift  down  upon  the  Constitution.  This  man  was 
asked  what  countryman  he  was,  and  he  answered,  in  a  strong  Irish  ac- 
cent ,  "  an  American,  your  honour."  He  was  sent  below,  with  orders  to 
take  good  care  of  him. 

The  next  day  the  deserter  was  inquired  after,  and  it  was  intimated  that 
as  he  said  he  was  an  American,  he  could  not  be  given  up.  It  is  believed, 
however,  that  no  formal  demand  was  made  for  the  Irishman,  though  it 
was  rumoured  on  shore  that  there  would  be  trouble  when  the  Constitution 
attempted  to  go  to  sea,  as  it  was  known  she  was  about  to  do  that  night. 
In  the  course  of  the  day  two  frigates  came  and  anchored  near  her,  when 
disliking  his  berth,  the  American  commanding  officer  got  under  way,  and 
dropped  out  about  a  mile  farther  to  seaward.  So  close  were  the  British 
ships  at  the  time,  that  the  pilot  expressed  his  apprehensions  of  getting 
foul  of  one  of  them,  and  he  was  told  to  go  foul,  if  he  could  do  no  better. 
By  careful  handling,  however,  the  ship  went  clear. 

A  frigate  followed  the  Constitution  to  her  new  anchorage.  About  8 
o'clock,  Capt.  Hull,  who  was  now  on  board,  ordered  the  ship  cleared  for 
action.  The  lanterns  were  lighted,  fore  and  aft,  and  the  people  went  to 
quarters,  by  beat  of  drum.  It  is  not  easy  to  portray  the  enthusiasm  that 
existed  in  this  noble  ship,  every  officer  and  man  on  board  believing  that 
the  affair  of  the  Chesapeake  was  about  to  be  repeated,  so  far,  at  least,  as 
the  assault  was  concerned.  The  manner  in  which  the  people  took  hold 
of  the  gun-tackles  has  been  described  as  if  they  were  about  to  jerk  the 
guns  through  the  ship's  sides.  An  officer  who  was  passing  through  tire 
batteries,  observed  to  the  men,  that  if  there  was  an  occasion  to  fight,  it 
would  be  in  their  quarrel,  and  that  he  expected  good  service  from  them. 
"  Let  the  quarter-deck  lookout  for  the  colours,"  was  the  answer,  "and 
we  will  look  out  for  the  guns."  In  short,  it  was  not  possible  for  a  ship's 
company  to  be  in  a  better  humour  to  defend  the  honour  of  the  flag,  when 
the  drum  beat  the  retreat,  and  the  boatswain  piped  the  people  to  the 
capstan-bars.  The  ship  lifted  her  anchor,  and  stood  over  towards  Cher- 
bourg, however,  without  being  followed.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the 
prudence  of  Sir  Roger  Curtis  alone  prevented  an  engagement  of  some 
sort  or  other,  on  this  occasion.  That  officer  probably  felt,  as  many  of  the 
older  officers  of  the  British  service  are  understood  to  have  felt,  the  in- 
justice of  the  English  system,  particularly  as  it  was  practised  towards 
America, 

VOL.  II.— 12 


138  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Capt.  Hull  hove  to,  beat  to  quarters,  and  waited  to  know 
her  object.  It  fortunately  proved  to  be  amicable. 

Before  quitting  Cherbourg,  off  which  place  English  crui- 
sers were  constantly  hovering,  it  had  been  agreed  that  the 
Constitution,  on  her  return,  should  show  a  particular  signal, 
in  order  that  the  French  batteries  might  not  mistake  her  for 
a  cruiser  of  the  enemy.  On  reaching  the  entrance  of  the 
port,  one  of  the  English  vessels  kept  close  to  the  American 
frigate,  while  the  latter  was  turning  up  into  the  roads,  with 
a  fresh  breeze,  and  in  thick  weather.  Unfortunately,  some 
strong  objections  existed  to  making  the  signal,  and  the  bat- 
teries fired  a  gun.  The  shot  struck  the  Constitution  in  the 
bends.  It  was  soon  followed  by  a  second  that  flew  be- 
tween the  masts.  A  third  passed  through  the  hammocks 
stowed  in  the  waist,  and  stove  one  of  the  boats.  The  steadi- 
ness of  the  frigate  now  induced  the  French  to  pause,  and 
an  opportunity  offering  soon  after  to  show  the  signal,  the 
firing  ceased.  The  English  ship  bore  up,  as  soon  as  the 
battery  opened.* 

The  Hornet  18,  Capt.  Lawrence,  followed  the  Constitu- 
tion to  Europe,  and  the  Wasp  the  Hornet.  In  this  manner 
did  the  autumn  of  1811,  and  the  spring  of  1812  pass,  ship 
succeeding  ship,  with  the  despatches  and  diplomatic  com- 
munications that  so  soon  after  terminated  in  the  war  with 
England.  As  we  are  now  approaching  the  most  important 
period  in  the  history  of  the  American  navy,  it  may  be  well 
to  take  a  short  review  of  its  actual  condition. 

Between  the  reduction  in  1801,  and  the  commencement 

*  One  of  those  singular  cases  of  death,  is  said  to  have  occurred  on  board 
the  Constitution,  on  this  occasion,  that  sometimes  follow  injuries  inflicted 
by  cannon  shot.  A  midshipman  was  passing  along  the  ship's  waist,  at  the 
moment  the  shot  that  stove  the  boat  entered,  and  he  fell.  He  was  taken 
up,  carried  below,  and  in  a  day  or  two  died,  though  no  external  hurt 
was  visible.  It  is  supposed  that  the  shot  must  have  produced  the  death, 
though  in  what  manner  is  unknown. 


KAVAL  HISTORY.  139 

•-•*- 

of  1812,  a  period  of  eleven  eventful  years,  during  which  the 
nation  was  scarcely  a  day  without  suffering  violations  of  its 
neutral  rights,  not  a  single  frigate  had  been  added  to  the 
navy !  The  ships  of  the  line  authorized  in  1799  were  en- 
tirely abandoned,  and  notwithstanding  the  critical  rela- 
tions of  the  country,  the  experience  of  the  past,  and  so 
many  years  of  commercial  prosperity,  the  navy,  in  some 
respects,  was  in  a  worse  situation,  than  after  the  sale 
of  the  ships  in  1801.  Of  the  thirteen  frigates  retained  at 
that  time,  the  Philadelphia  38,  had  been  taken  and  destroy- 
ed, and  the  New  York  36,  General  Greene  28,  and  Boston 
28,  had  gone  to  decay,  without  repairs.  Thus,  in  point  of 
fact,  though  twelve  ships  of  this  class  appear  on  the  list  of 
the  day,  but  nine  actually  existed,  for  any  practical  pur- 
poses. The  various  vessels  of  inferior  force,  that  have 
been  already  mentioned  in  this  work,  as  constructed  under 
different  laws,  had  been  added  to  the  navy,  while  two  or 
three  temporarily  taken  into  the  service  were  already  sold. 
A  few  small  schooners  had  been  purchased.  Navy  yards 
had  been  established  at  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Boston, 
Washington,  Gosport,  and  Portsmouth,  though  they  were 
still  in  their  infancy,  and  very  incomplete.  One  hundred 
and  seventy  gun-boats  had  also  been  built,  and  were  dis- 
tributed in  the  different  ports  of  the  country. 

While  the  navy  on  the  whole,  the  gun-boats  excepted, 
had  rather  lost  than  gained  in  physical  force,  since  the  re- 
duction of  1801,  it  had  improved  immeasurably  in  disci- 
pline, tone,  and  in  an  esprit  de  corps.  The  little  that  had 
been  lost,  in  these  respects,  through  the  service  in  gun-boats, 
was  more  than  regained  by  the  effect  produced  by  the  attack 
on  the  Chesapeake,  and  the  constant  state  of  excitement 
that  prevailed  with  regard  to  English  aggressions,  during  the 
few  preceding  years.  The  lists  of  captains,  masters-com- 
mandant, and  lieutenants  were  small,  but  filled  with  men 
trained  to  obedience,  and,  consequently,  qualified  to  com- 


140  If  AVAL  HISTORY. 

mand.  It  is  true,  but  one  of  the  officers  of  the  Revolution  re- 
mained, who  was  at  the  head  of  the  service ;  and  he  was  nearly 
superannuated  by  years  and  infirmities;  but  those  to  whom 
they  had  imparted  their  traditions  and  spirit  had  succeeded 
them.  Com.  Samuel  Nicholson,  whose  name  first  appeared  in 
our  pages,  in  1776,  as  commander  of  the  Dolphin  10,  died 
at  the  head  of  the  service  at  the  close  of  the  year  1811.  The 
celebrated  Preble  had  preceded  him  several  years  to  the 
grave,  and  Com.  Murray  alone  remained  of  those  officers 
who  might  be  said  to  have  belonged  to  the  old  school.-* 

*  Edward  Preble  was  born  in  August,  1761,  at  Kittery,  in  the  present 
state,  then  .province,  of  Maine.  His  direct  ancestor,  Abraham  Preble, 
lived  in  the  colonies  as  early  as  1637,  at  least,  and  his  father,  Jedediah 
Preble,  died  at  Portland  in  1784,  having  held  the  rank  of  Brigadier  Gene- 
ral in  the  militia  of  the  Revolution.  Young  Preble  went  early  to  sea,  and 
is  said  to  have  served  as  a  midshipman,  in  the  Massachusetts  state  ship, 
Protector,  Capt.  Williams,  in  her  hard-fought  action  with  the  Duft'.  He 
appears  subsequently  on  board  the  Winthrop,  Capt.  Little,  a  cruiser  in 
the  service  of  the  same  state,  as  her  first  lieutenant.  In  this  capacity,  he 
boarded  and  carried,  in  the  Penobscot,  a  strong  letter  of  marque,  an 
exploit  that, 'in  its  day,  was  thought  to  be  little  inferior  to  the  capture 
of  the  Philadelphia.  At  the  peace  of  1783,  Mr.  Preble,  who  was  then  but 
twenty-two,  was  compelled  to  retire  to  private  life,  though  he  carried 
with  him  a  reputation  that  was  not  forgotten.  During  the  twelve  or 
fourteen  years  that  succeeded,  Mr.  Preble  was  employed  in  command  of 
merchant  vessels,  increasing  his  nautical  experience,  and  improving  his 
private  circumstances.  He  also  married. 

When  the  present  navy  was  established,  Mr.  Preble  entered  it,  as  one  of 
the  senior  lieutenants.  He  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  of  the  1st  lieu- 
tenants  ordered  to  the  Constitution  44;  and  as  the  principle  was  laid  down, 
that  the  officers  of  the  frigates  first  built,  should  have  relative  rank  agree- 
ably to  the  seniority  of  their  captains,  this  would  have  made  Mr.  Preble 
the  second  lieutenant  in  the  navy.  He.  did  not  remain  long  in  the  Consti- 
tution, however,  his  name  appearing  as  early  as  1798,  in  command  of  the 
Pickering  14.  The  commission  of  lieutenant-commandant  is  known  to  have 
been  issued  during  the  war  with  France,  and  Mr.  Preble's  name  standing 
in  the  reports  of  the  day  as  a  lieutenant-commandant,  he  is  believed  to 
have  held  that  commission.  On  the  15th  of  May,  1799,  Mr.  Preble 
was  raised  to  the  rank  of  captain,  without  having  passed  by  that  of 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  141 

Still,  the  new  school  was  in  no  respect  inferior ;  and  in  some 
particulars,  it  was  greatly  the  superior  of  that  which  had 
gone  before  it.  The  vessels,  generally,  were  good  ships  of 
their  respective  classes,  and  the  officers,  as  a  body,  were 
every  way  worthy  to  take  charge  of  them.  Several  of  those 
who  had  been  retained  as  midshipmen,  after  the  war  with 
France,  were  already  commanders,  and  the  vessels  beneath 
the  rate  of  frigates,  with  one  exception,  were  commanded 

master-commandant.  He  was  shortly  after  appointed  to  the  Essex  32, 
of  which  ship  he  was  the  first  commander.  While  in  the  Essex,  he 
cruised  as  far  as  the  East  Indies,  returning  home  about  the  time  peace 
was  restored.  No  opportunity  occurred  for  Capt.  Preble  to  distinguish 
himself  in  this  war.  In  1803,  Capt.  Preble  hoisted  his  broad  pennant  on 
board  the  Constitution,  as  commander  of  the  Mediterranean  squadron. 
His  services  in  that  important  station,  are  already  related  in  the  body  of 
the  work. 

Com.  Preble  suffered  much  from  ill  health,  and  after  his  return  home, 
he  was  employed  in  the  command  of  a  navy  yard.  He  died  August  the 
25th,  1807,  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  commanded  at 
the  time. 

The  name  of  Preble  will  always  be  associated  with  the  reputation  of  the 
American  navy.  He  was  the  first  officer  who  ever  commanded  a  series 
of  active  military  operations,  in  squadron,  against  an  enemy,  unless  the 
irregular  and  anomalous  cruise  of  Paul  Jones  entitled  him  to  that  distinc- 
tion ;  none  of  the  other  commands,  during  the  two  previous  wars,  par- 
taking exactly  of  this  character.  In  addition  to  this  advantage,  Com. 
Preble  had  high  professional  qualities.  Although,  personally,  far  from 
being,  a  favourite  with  those  under  his  orders,  he  possessed  the  perfect 
respect,  and  entire  obedience  of  his  subordinates.  His  discipline  was 
high-toned,  and  his  notions  of  the  duties  of  an  inferior,  were  of  the  most 
rigid  kind.  On  one  occasion,  he  is  known  to  have  sternly  rebuked  an 
officer  for  covering  and  protecting  a  bombard  against  an  attempt  to  cut 
her  off,  because  it  was  done  without  a  signal  from  the  flag-ship.  He  was, 
however,  generous  and  liberal  in  his  appreciation  of  merit,  and  quite 
ready  to  do  justice  to  all  who  deserved  his  commendations.  As  he  died 
at  the  early  age  of  45,  the  country  lost  many  years  of  services  that  it  had 
expected;  and  Com.  Preble  himself,  in  all  probability,  much  renown  that 
one  of  his  character  would  have  been  likely  to  gain  in  the  war  that 
succeeded. 

12* 


142  .  .          KAVAL  HISTORY. 

by  gentlemen  of  this  description.  The  exception  was  in 
the  case  of  the  Wasp  18,  on  board  which  ship  was  Capt. 
Jones,  who  had  been  the  youngest  of  the  lieutenants  retain- 
ed in  1801,  and  who  was  now  the  oldest  master-comman- 
dant. He  had  joined  the  service,  however,  as  a  midship- 
man. 

If  the  naval  armaments  made  by  the  country,  under  the 
prospect  of  a  war  with  Great  Britain,  are  to  be  regarded 
with  the  eyes  of  prudence,  little  more  can  be  said,  than  to 
express  astonishment  at  the  political  infatuation  which  per- 
mitted the  day  of  preparation  to  pass,  unheeded.  Still  a 
little  was  done,  and  that  little  it  is  our  duty  to  record. 

Early  in  1809,  the  marine  corps  was  augmented  by  an 
addition  of  near  700  men,  which  probably  put  this  import- 
ant branch  of  the  navy,  on  a  footing  equal  to  the  rest  of  the 
service,  as  it  then  existed  ;  the  entire  corps  containing  about 
1300  men  when  full.  On  the  30th  of  March,  1812,  or  less 
than  three  months  previously  to  the  war  with  England, 
Congress  authorized  the  President  to  cause  three  additional 
frigates  to  be  put  in  service,  and  the  sum  of  $200,000  an- 
nually was  appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  timber  to  re- 
build the  three  frigates  that  had  been  permitted  to  decay, 
and  the  one  that  had  been  captured. 

When  the  amount  of  these  appropriations  is  considered, 
the  conclusion  would  seem  inevitable,  that  the  government 
did  not  at  all  anticipate  hostilities,  were  it  not  for  the  more 
ample  preparations  that  were  making  on  land,  and  the  large 
sums  that  had  been  expended  on  gun-boats.  It  is  not  im- 
probable, therefore,  that  those  to  whom  the  direction  of 
affairs  was  confided,  believed  the  naval  force  of  the  coun- 
try too  insignificant,  and  that  of  Great  Britain  too  over- 
whelming, to  render  any  serious  efforts  to  create  a  marine, 
at  that  late  hour,  expedient.  A  comparison  of  the  naval 
forces  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  with  their 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  143 

respective  conditions,  will  render  this  idea  plausible,  al- 
though it  may  not  fully  justify  it,  as  a  measure  of  policy. 

In  1812,  the  navy  of  Great  Britain  nominally  contained  a 
thousand  and  sixty  sail,  of  which  between  seven  and  eight 
hundred  were  efficient  cruising  vessels.  France  had  no 
fleets  to  occupy  this  great  marine,  Spain  was  detached  from 
the  alliance  against  England,  the  north  of  Europe  no  longer 
required  a  force  to  watch  it,  and  Great  Britain  might  direct 
at  once,  towards  the  American  coast,  as  many  ships,  as  the 
nature  of  the  war  could  possibly  demand. 

As  opposed  to  this  unexampled  naval  power,  America 
had  on  her  list  the  following  vessels,  exclusive  of  gun- 
boats, viz : 

..&*-•  I 

Constitution  44,  John  Adams  28, 

President  44,  Wasp  18, 

United  States  44,  Hornet  18, 

Congress  38,  Argus  16, 

Constellation  38,  Siren  16, 

Chesapeake  38,  Oneida  16, 

New  York  36,  Vixen  14, 

Essex  32,  Nautilus  14, 

Adams  28,  Enterprise  14, 

Boston  28,  Viper  12, 

Of  these  vessels,  the  New  York  36,  and  Boston  28, 
were  unseaworthy,  and  the  Oneida  16,  was  on  Lake  On- 
tario. The  remainder  were  efficient  for  their  rates,  though 
the  Adams  required  extensive  repairs  before  she  could  be 
sent  to  sea.  It  follows  that  America  was  about  to  engage 
in  a  war  with  much  the  greatest  maritime  power  that  the 
world  ever  saw,  possessing  herself  but  seventeen  cruising 
vessels  on  the  ocean,  of  which  nine  were  of  a  class  less  than 
frigates.  At  this  time  the  merchant  vessels  of  the  United 
States  were  spread  over  the  face  of  the  entire  earth.  No 


144  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

other  instance  can  be  found  of  so  great  a  stake  in  shipping 
with  a  protection  so  utterly  inadequate. 

If  any  evidence  were  wanting  to  show  how  much  facts 
precede  opinion  in  America,  it  would  be  amply  furnished  in 
this  simple  statement.  Throughout  the  whole  of  the  events 
we  have  been  required  to  record,  we  have  seen  that  the 
navy  has  followed  the  exigencies  of  the  state,  or  the  abso- 
lute demands  of  necessity,  instead  of  having  been  created, 
fostered,  and  extended,  as  the  cheapest,  most  efficient,  and 
least  onerous  means  of  defence,  that  a  nation  so  situated 
could  provide. 

In  addition  to  her  vast  superiority  in  ships,  Great  Britain 
possessed  her  islands  in  the  West  Indies,  Bermuda  and 
Halifax,  as  ports  for  refitting,  and  places  of  refuge  for 
prizes,  while,  on  the  part  of  America,  though  there  were 
numerous  ports,  all  were  liable  to  be  blockaded  the  mo- 
ment an  enemy  might  choose  to  send  a  force  of  two  line  of 
battle-ships  and  one  frigate  to  any  given  point ;  for  it  is  not 
to  be  concealed  that  three  two-decked  ships  could  have 
driven  the  whole  of  the  public  cruising  marine  of  America 
before  them,  at  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing.  Such 
was  the  condition  of  a  great  maritime  people,  on  the  eve 
of  a  serious  war,  and  in  defiance  of  the  experience  of  a  strug- 
gle, in  which  the  men  in  power  had  been  prominent  actors! 

There  can  be  but  one  manner  of  accounting  for  this  ex- 
traordinary state  of  things,  that  already  mentioned  of  the 
belief  of  the  impossibility  of  keeping  vessels  at  sea,  in  face 
of  the  overwhelming  force  of  Great  Britain.  It  is  in  cor- 
roboration  of  this  opinion,  that  a  project  was  entertained  by 
the  cabinet  of  laying  up  all  the  vessels  in  ordinary,  with  a 
view  to  prevent  them  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  This  step  would  have  been  a  death  blow  to  the 
navy,  for  the  people  would  have- been  perfectly  justifiable  in 
refusing  to  support  a  marine,  that  was  intended  solely  for 
peace  It  is  now  understood  that  this  resolution  was  only 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  145 

prevented  by  the  interference  of  two  officers  of  the  service, 
who  happened  to  be  at  the  seat  of  government  when  the 
subject  was  under  discussion.  These  gentlemen*  are  said 
to  have  made  a  vigorous  written  remonstrance  against  the 
scheme,  and  by  means  of  their  representations  to  have  in- 
duced the  cabinet  to  change  its  policy. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  the  intention  just  stated, 
would  have  been  indicative  of  great  feebleness  of  action,  and 
of  a  narrowness  of  views,  that  was  entirely  unsuited  to  the 
characters  of  statesmen.  But  the  circumstances  were  extra- 
ordinary. Not  only  was  the  marine  of  Great  Britain  much  the 
most  powerful  of  any  in  the  world,  but  it  was  more  power- 
ful than  those  of  all  the  rest  of  Christendom  united.  In  ad- 
dition to  its  actual  physical  force,  it  had  created  for  itself  a 
moral  auxiliary  that  was  scarcely  less  available  in  practice, 
than  its  guns  and  men.  The  reputation  of  invincibility  was 
very  generally  attached  to  an  English  man-of-war,  and  per- 
haps no  people  gave  England  more  ample  credit  for  every 
species  of  superiority,  whether  physical  or  moral,  that  she 
claimed  for  herself,  than  those  of  the  United  States  of 
America.  The  success  of  the  British  navy  was  indisputa- 
ble, and  as  few  Americans  then  read  books,  or  journals,  in 
foreign  tongues,  while  scarcely  a  newspaper  appeared  with- 

*  Capts.  Bainbridge  and  Stewart.  These  two  officers  were  shown  or- 
ders to  Com.  Rodgers  not  to  quit  New  York,  but  to  keep  the  vessels  in, 
port  to  form  a  part  of  its  harbour  defence.  They  sought  an  interview 
with  the  Secretary,  who  was  influenced  by  their  representations,  and 
who  procured  for  them  an  audience  of  the  president.  Mr.  Madison 
listened  to  the  representations  of  the  two  captains,  with  attention,  and 
observed  that  the  experience  of  the  Revolution  confirmed  their  opinions. 
The  cabinet  was  convened,  but  it  adhered  to  its  former  advice.  Capts. 
Bainbridge  and  Stewart,  then  addressed  a  strong  letter  to  the  President, 
who  took  on  himself  to  change  the  plan.  It  is  said,  that  one  or  two  of  the 
cabinet  acceded  to  this  decision,  on  the  ground  that  the  ships  would  soon 
be  taken,  and  that  the  country  would  thus  be  rid  of  the  cost  of  maintain- 
ing them,  and  at  more  liberty  to  direct  its  energies  to  the  army. 


146  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

out  its  columns  containing  some  tribute  to  British  glory,  it 
would  not  be  easy  to  portray  the  extent  of  the  feeling,  or 
the  amount  of  the  credulity  that  generally  existed  on  such 
subjects. 

That  the  officers  of  the  navy  should,  in  a  great  degree, 
be  superior  to  this  dependent  feeling  was  natural.  They 
had  enjoyed  means  of  comparison  that  were  denied  the  bulk 
of  their  fellow  citizens,  and  the  results  had  taught  them  more 
confidence  in  themselves.  They  knew  that  their  ships  were 
at  least  as  good  as  those  of  England,  that  they  sailed  as  fast, 
were  worked  as  well,  and,  in  every  essential  on  which  a 
seaman  prides  himself,  that  England  could  justly  claim  no 
other  superiority  than  that  which  might  be  supposed  to  be- 
long to  her  greater  experience  in  naval  warfare.  Against  this 
odds,  they  were  willing  to  contend.  Not  so  with  the  nation. 
Notwithstanding  the  best  dispositions  on  the  part  of  a  vast 
majority  of  the  American  people,  the  conviction  was  general 
that  an  American  vessel  of  war  would  contend  against  an  En- 
glish vessel  of  war,  with  very  few  chances  of  success.  After 
making  every  allowance  for  equality  in  all  the  other  essen- 
tials, the  great  point  of  practice  was  against  the  former, 
and  the  confidence  produced  by  a  thousand  victories,  it  was 
believed,  would  prove  more  available  than  zeal  or  courage. 

It  is  not  as  easy  to  describe  the  feeling  on  the  other  side. 
Among  the  young  officers  of  the  British  navy  it  is  pretty 
safe  to  say  that  a  notion  of  overwhelming  superiority  was 
very  generally  prevalent,  but  among  the  older  men  there 
were  many  who  had  studied  the  American  cruisers  with 
observant  eyes,  and  a  few  who  still  recollected  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  when  ill  equipped,  uncoppered  and  half-man- 
ned ships,  had  rendered  victory  dear,  and,  not  unfrequently, 
defeat  certain.  The  journals  of  Great  Britain  indulged  in 
that  coarse  and  impolitic  abuse,  which  has  probably  done 
more  towards  raisinga  hostile feelingthroughoutchristendom 
against  their  nation,  than  any  political  injustice,  or  political 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


147 


jealousies;  and  the  few  ships  of  the  American  navy  did  not 
escape  their  sneers  and  misrepresentations.  One  of  the 
very  last  of  the  vessels  that  they  attempted  to  hold  up  to  the 
derision  of  Europe,  was  the  Constitution,  a  frigate  that  was 
termed  "  a  bunch  of  pine  boards,"  sailing  "  under  a  bit  of 
striped  bunting."  As  indecorous  as  was  this  language,  and 
as  little  worthy  as  it  might  be  to  excite  feeling,  or  com- 
ment, America  was  too  keenly  alive  to  English  opinion,  to 
hear  it  with  indifference,  and  the  day  was  at  hand  when 
exultingly  threw  back  these  terms  of  reproach,  with 
taunts  and  ridicule  almost  as  unbecoming  as  the  gibes  that 
had  provoked  them. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  even  the  friends  of  the  navy 
looked  forward  to  the  conflict  with  distrust,  while  the  En- 
glish felt  a  confidence  that,  of  itself,  was  one  step  towards 
victorv. 


148  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  X. 


ALLUSION  has  been  made  to  the  events  which  led  to  hostili- 
ties between  America  and  England,  though  they  belong  to  the 
political  rather  than  to  the  naval  history  of  the  country.  In 
the  winter  of  1812,  a  plot  on  the  part  of  English  agents,  to 
sever  the  American  Union,  was  revealed  to  the  govern- 
ment ;  and,  at  a  later  day,  the  determination  of  the  English 
ministry  to  adhere  to  her  orders  in  council,  was  formally 
communicated  to  the  president.  At  the  same  time,  the 
claim  to  impress  English  seamen  out  of  American  ships  on 
the  high  seas,  was  maintained  in  theory,  while  in  practice, 
the  outrage  was  constantly  extended  to  natives;  the  board- 
ing officers  acting,  in  effect,  on  the  unjust  and  perfectly  il- 
legal principle,  that  the  seaman  who  failed  to  prove  that  he 
was  an  American,  should  be  seized  as  an  Englishman. 
Owing  to  these  united  causes,  congress  formally  declared 
war  against  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  on  the  18th  of  June, 
1812. 

At  the  moment  when  this  important  intelligence  was 
made  public,  nearly  all  of  the  little  American  marine  were 
either  in  port,  or  were  cruising  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  coast.  But  a  single  ship,  the  Wasp  18,  Capt.  Jones, 
was  on  foreign  service,  and  she  was  on  her  return 
from  Europe  with  despatches.  It  is,  however,  some 
proof  that  the  government  expected  nothing  more  from  its 


- 

NAVAL  HISTORY.  149 

navy,  than  a  few  isolated  exploits,  that  could  produce  no 
great  influence  on  the  main  results  of  the  contest,  that  the 
force  the  country  actually  possessed  was  not  collected,  and 
ordered  to  act  in  a  body,  during  the  short  period  that  it  would 
possess  the  advantage  of  assailing  the  enemy,  while  the  lat- 
ter was  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  hostilities.  A  squadron 
of  three  twenty-four  pounder  frigates,  of  as  many  eigh- 
teen-pounder  vessels  of  the  same  class,  and  of  eight  or  ten 
smaller  cruisers,  all  effective,  well  manned,  and  admirably 
officered,  might  have  been  assembled,  with  a  due  attention  to 
preparation.  The  enemy  had  but  one  two-decker,  an  old 
64,  on  the  American  coast;  and  the  force  just  mentioned, 
was  quite  sufficient  to  have  blockaded  both  Halifax  and 
Bermuda,  for  a  month;  or  until  the  English  received  the  in- 
telligence of  the  war,  and  had  time  to  reinforce  from  the 
West  Indies.  It  has  been  said,  that  several  hundred  home- 
ward-bound American  vessels  were  at  sea,  at  that  moment, 
and  in  the  event  of  a  few  straggling  cruisers  of  the  enemy's 
making  prizes  on  the  coast,  there  would  have  been  no  port 
at  hand,  into  which  they  could  have  been  sent,  and  a  large 
proportion  would  probably  have  been  recaptured  by  the 
American  privateers  that  immediately  covered  the  adjacent 
seas.  Had  the  British  cruisers  collected,  as  indeed  they  did, 
under  the  impression  that  some  such  policy  would  be  pur- 
sued, it  would  have  been  easy  to  destroy  them,  or  at  least 
to  drive  them  into  port,  when  the  same  end  would  have  been 
obtained  in  a  different  form. 

But  the  declaration  of  war  did  not  find  the  little  marine 
of  America  in  a  condition  to  act  in  this  combined,  intelli- 
gent, and  military  manner.  The  vessels  were  scattered; 
some  were  undergoing  repairs,  others  were  at  a  distance; 
and,  with  the  exception  of  one  small  squadron,  every  thing 
was  virtually  committed  to  the  activity,  judgment,  and  en- 
terprise of  the  different  captains.  In  the  port  of  New  York, 
were  collected  the  President  44,  Com.  Rodgers ;  Essex  32, 

VOL.  II.—13 


150  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Capt.  Porter;  and  Hornet  18,  Capt.  Lawrence.  These 
vessels  were  ready  to  sail  at  an  hour's  notice,  except  the 
Essex,  which  ship  was  overhauling  her  rigging,  and  re- 
stowing  her  hold.  Com.  Rodgers  had  dropped  into  the 
bay,  with  the  President  and  Hornet,  where  he  was  joined 
by  the  United  States  44,  Com.  Decatur,  Congress  38,  Capt. 
Smith,  and  Argus  16,  Lieut.  Com.  Sinclair,  which  arrived 
from  the  southward  on  the  21st  of  June. 

Information  had  been  received  of  the  sailing  of  a  large 
fleet  of  Jamaica-men,  under  protection  of  a  strong  force ; 
and  as  these  vessels  would  naturally  be  sweeping  along  the 
American  coast,  in  the  gulf  stream,  it  was  determined  to 
make  a  dash  at  this  convoy, — as  judicious  a  plan,  under  the 
circumstances,  as  could  then  have  been  adopted.  Within  an 
hour  after  he  had  received  official  information  of  the  decla- 
ration of  war,  together  with  his  orders,  Com.  Rodgers  was 
under  way. 

The  squadron  passed  Sandy  Hook  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  21st  of  June,  and  ran  off  south-east.  That  night  an 
American  was  spoken,  that  had  seen  the  Jamaica  ships,  and 
sail  was  instantly  crowded  in  pursuit.  On  the  23d,  how- 
ever, at  6  A.  M.,  a  sail  was  seen  to  the  northward  and  east- 
ward, which  was  soon  made  out  to  be  an  enemy's  frigate, 
and  a  general  chase  took  place.  The  wind  was  fresh,  for 
the  greater  part  of  the  day,  and  the  enemy  standing  before 
it;  the  President,  an  uncommonly  fast  ship  off  the  wind,  soon 
gained,  not  only  on  the  enemy,  but  on  the  rest  of  the  squad- 
ron. About  4  P.  M.,  she  was  within  gun-shot  of  the  chase, 
but  the  wind  had  unfortunately  fallen,  and  the  American 
ships  being  just  out  of  port  and  deep,  their  greater  compar- 
ative, weight,  under  such  circumstances,  gave  the  enemy 
an  advantage.  Perceiving  but  very  faint  hopes  of  getting 
along  side  of  the  stranger,  unless  he  could  cripple  him, 
Com.  Rodgers  determined  now  to  open  on  him,  with  his 
chase-guns.  With  this  view,  that  officer  went  forward,  him- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  151 

self,  to  direct  the  cannonade,  and  about  half  past  4,  the 
forecastle  gun  was  discharged.  This  was  the  first  hostile 
shot  fired  afloat  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  the  gun  is  under- 
stood to  have  been  pointed  by  Com.  Rodgers  in  person.* 
The  shot  struck  the  chase  in  the  rudder-coat,  and  drove . 
through  the  stern  frame  into  the  gun-room.  The  next  gun 
was  fired  from  the  first  division  below,  and  was  pointed  and 
discharged  by  Mr.  Gamble,  the  second  lieutenant,  who 
commanded  the  battery.  The  shot  struck  the  muzzle  of 
one  of  the  enemy's  stern  chasers,  which  ,it  damaged. 
Com.  Rodgers  fired  the  third  shot,  which  struck  the  stern 
of  the  chase,  killed  two  men,  badly  wounded  two  more,  and 
slightly  wounded  a  lieutenant  and  two  others.  Mr.  Gam- 
ble again  fired,  when  the  gun  bursted.  The  shot  flew  broad 
off  on  the  President's  bow,  and  the  explosion  killed  and 
wounded  sixteen  men.  The  forecastle  deck  was  blown  up, 
and  Com.  Rodgers  was  thrown  into  the  air,  breaking  a  leg 
by  the  fall.  This  accident  prevented  the  guns  of  that  side 
from  being  used  for  some  time.  The  pause  enabled  the 
enemy  to  open  from  four  stern  guns,  otherwise  he  would 
have  soon  been  driven  from  the  after  part  of  his  ship.  The 
fire  of  the  chase  was  spirited  and  good,  one  of  his  shot 
plunging  on  the  President's  deck,  killing  a  midshipman,  and 
one  or  two  men.  The  President  shortly  after  began  to 
yaw,  with  a  view  to  cut  away  some  of  the  chase's  spars, 
and  her  fire  soon  compelled  the  latter  to  lighten.  The  ene- 
my cut  away  his  anchors,  stove  his  boats  and  threw  them 
overboard,  and  started  14  tons  of  water.  By  these  means  he 
drew  ahead,  when  about  7  o'clock  the  President  hauled  up, 
and  as  a  last  resort,  fired  three  broadsides,  most  of  the  shot 
of  which  fell  short. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  get  any  nearer  to  the  enemy, 

*  As  all  the  guns,  at  that  time,  went  with  locks,  it  is  also  probable  that 
he  pulled  the  lanyard. 


]  52  NAVAL  HISTORY". 

without  rendering  his  own  ships  inefficient  for  a  cruise,  by 
lightening,  Com.  Rodgers  ordered  the  pursuit  to  be  finally 
abandoned,  about  midnight.  It  was  afterwards  known, 
that  the  vessel  chased  was  the  Belvidera  36,  Capt.  Byron, 
who  deservedly  gained  much  credit  for  the  active  manner  in 
which  he  saved  his  ship.  The  Belvidera  got  into  Halifax 
a  few  days  later,  carrying  with  her  the  news  of  the  decla- 
ration of  war.  The  President  had  22  men  killed  and 
wounded  on  this  occasion,  16  of  whom  suffered  by  the 
bursting  of  the  gun.  Among  the  former,  was  the  midship- 
man mentioned  ;  and  among  the  latter,  Mr.  Gamble.  The 
loss  of  the  Belvidera  was  stated  at  seven  killed  and  wound- 
ed by  shot,  and  several  others  by  accidents,  Capt.  Byron 
included.  She  also  suffered  materially  in  her  spars,  sails 
and  rigging;  while  the  injuries  of  this  nature,  received  by 
the  President,  were  not  serious. 

The  squadron  now  hauled  up  to  its  course,  in  pursuit  of 
the  Jamaica-men;  and,  from  time  to  time,  intelligence  was 
obtained  from  American  vessels,  of  the  course  the  fleet  was 
steering.  On  the  1st  of  July,  the  pursuing  ships  fell  in  with 
large  quantities  of  the  shells  of  cocoa-nuts,  orange  peels, 
&c.  &c.,  which  gave  an  assurance  that  they  had  struck  the 
wake  of  the  Englishmen.  This  was  a  little  to  the  eastward 
of  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland,  and  the  strongest  hopes 
were  entertained  of  coming  up  with  the  fleet  before  it  could 
reach  the  channel.  On  the  9th  of  July,  an  English  letter  of 
marque  was  captured  by  the  Hornet,  Capt.  Lawrence,  and 
her  master  reported  that  he  had  seen  the  Jamaica  vessels 
the  previous  evening,  under  the  convoy  of  a  two-decked 
ship,  a  frigate,  a  sloop  of  war,  and  a  brig.  He  had  count- 
ed 8.5  sail.  All  possible  means  were  now  used  to  force  the 
squadron  ahead,  but  without  success,  no  further  information 
having  been  received  of  the  fleet.  The  chase  was  con- 
tinued until  the  13th,  when,  being  within  a  day's  run  of 
the  chops  of  the  channel,  Com.  Rodgers  stood  to  the  south- 


HISTORY.  153 

ward,  passing  Madeira,  and  going  into  Boston  by  the  way 
of  the  Western  Islands  and  the  Grand  Banks. 

This  cruise  was  singularly  unfortunate,  for  such  a  mo- 
ment, although  the  ships  were  kept  in  the  direct  tracks  of 
vessels  in  crossing  the  ocean,  each  time.  Seven  merchant- 
men were  taken,  however,  and  one  American  was  recap- 
tured. The  squadron  was  absent  on  this  service  seventy 
days. 

The  report  of  the  Belvidera  induced  the  enem^to  collect 
as  many  of  his  vessels  in  squadron,  as  possible;  and  a  force 
consisting  of  the  Africa  64,  Capt.  Bastard ;  Shannon  38, 
Capt.  Broke;  Guerriere  38,  Capt.  Dacres;  Belvidera  36, 
Capt.  Byron ;  and  ^Eolus  32,  Capt.  Lord  James  Townsend, 
was  soon  united,  in  the  hope  of  falling  in  with  Com. 
Rodgers.  Of  this  squadron,  Capt.  Broke,  of  the  Shannon, 
was  the  senior  officer.  It  appeared  off  New  York  early  in 
July,  where  it  made  several  captures.  The  Nautilus  14, 
Lieut.  Com.  Crane,  had  arrived  in  the  port  of  New  York, 
shortly  after  the  squadron  of  Com.  Rodgers  had  sailed;  and 
\  this  little  brig  went  out,  with  an  intention  of  cruising  in 
the  track  of  the  English  Indiamen,  at  the  unfortunate  mo- 
ment when  Com.  Broke  appeared  off  the  coast.  The  Nauti- 
lus got  to  sea  quite  early  in  July,  and  fell  in  with  the  British 
squadron  the  next  day.  A  short  but  vigorous  chase  suc- 
ceeded, in  which  Mr.  Crane  threw  overboard  his  lee-guns, 
and  did  all  that  a  seaman  could  devise  to  escape,  but  the 
Nautilus  buried,  while  the  frigates  of  the  enemy  were  en- 
abled to  carry  every  thing  to  advantage,  and  he  struck 
to  the  Shannon.  The  Nautilus  was  the  first  vessel  of 
war  taken  on  either  side,  in  this  contest,  and  thus  the 
service  lost  one  of  those  cruisers,  which  had  become  en- 
deared to  it,  and  identified  with  its  history,  in  connexion 
with  the  war  before  Tripoli.*  The  enemy  took  out  the 

*  The  Enterprise,  Nautilus,  and  Vixen,  were  originally  schooners,  but 
they  had  all  been  rigged  into  brigs,  previously  to  the  war  of  1812.     The 

13* 


154  1C  AVAL  HISTORY. 

officers  and  people  of  their  prize,  threw  a  crew  into  her, 
and  continued  to  cruise  in  the  hope  of  meeting  the  Ameri- 
can ships.  Leaving  them  thus  employed,  it  will  now  be  ne- 
cessary to  return  to  port,  in  quest  of  another  cruiser  to 
occupy  their  attention. 

The  Constitution  44,  Capt.  Hull,  had  gone  into  the  Chesa- 
peake, on  her  return  from  Europe,  and,  shipping  a  new  crew, 
on  the  12th  of  July  she  sailed  from  Annapolis,  and  cruised 
to  the  northward.  Friday,  July  the  17th,  the  ship  was  out 
of  sight  of  land,  though  at  no  great  distance  from  the  coast, 
with  a  light  breeze  from  the  N.  E.,  and  under  easy  canvass. 
At  1,  she  sounded  in  22  fathoms;  and  about  an  hour  after- 
wards, four  sail  were  made  in  the  northern  board,  heading 
to  the  westward.  At  3,  the  Constitution  made  sail,  and 
tacked  in  18^  fathoms.  At  4,  she  discovered  a  fifth  sail  to  the 
northward  and  eastward,  which  had  the  appearance  of  a 
vessel  of  war.  This  ship  subsequently  proved  to  be  the 
Guerriere  38,  Capt.  Dacres.  By  this  time,  the  other  four 
sail  were  made  out  to  be  three  ships  and  a  brig ;  they  bore 
N.  N.  W.,  and  were  all  on  the  starboard  tack,  apparently  in 
company.  The  wind  now  became  very  light,  and  the  Con- 
stitution hauled  up  her  main-sail.  The  ship  in  the  eastern 
board,  however,  had  so  far  altered  her  position  by  6,  as  to 
bear  E.  N.  E.,  the  wind  having  hitherto  been  fair  for  her  to 
close.  But  at  a  quarter  past  6,  the  wind  came  out  light  at 
the  southward,  bringing  the  American  ship  to  windward. 
The  Constitution  now  wore  round  with  her  head  to  the 
eastward,  set  her  light  studding-sails  and  stay-sails,  and  at 
half  past  7,  beat  to  quarters,  and  cleared  for  action,  with 
the  intention  of  speaking  the  nearest  vessel. 

The  wind  continued  very  light  at  the  southward,  and  the 
two  vessels  were  slowly  closing  until  8.  At  10,  the  Consti- 

>"'"          '..••'  ".'  -\  .".«'•••'. l  '•  '   -*.  :-• 

•  "  ^  .' 

Nautilus,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  the  vessel  commanded  by  the  re- 
gretted and  chivalrous  Somers. 


If  AVAL  HISTORY.  155 

tution  shortened  sail,  and  immediately  after  she  showed  the 
private  signal  of  the  day.  After  keeping  the  lights  aloft  near 
an  hour,  and  getting  no  answer  from  the  Guerriere,  the 
Constitution,  at  a  quarter  past  11,  lowered  the  signal,  and 
made  sail  again,  hauling  aboard  her  starboard  tacks.  Dur- 
ing the  whole  of  the  middle  watch  the  wind  was  very  light, 
from  the  southward  and  westward.  Just  as  the  morning 
watch  was  called,  the  Guerriere  tacked,  then  wore  entirely 
round,  threw  a  rocket,  and  fired  two  guns.  As  the  day 
opened,  three  sail  were  discovered  on  the  starboard  quarter 
of  the  Constitution,  and  three  more  astern.  At  5  A.  M.,  a 
fourth  vessel  was  seen  astern. 

This  was  the  squadron  of  Com.  Broke,  which  had  been 
gradually  closing  with  the  American  frigate  during  the 
night,  and  was  now  just  out  of  gun-shot.  As  the  ships 
slowly  varied  their  positions,  when  the  mists  were  entirely 
cleared  away,  the  Constitution  had  two  frigates  on  her  lee 
quarter,  and  a  ship  of  the  line,  two  frigates,  a  brig  and  a 
schooner  astern.  The  names  of  the  enemy's  ships  have  al- 
ready been  given ;  but  the  brig  was  the  Nautilus,  and  the 
schooner  another  prize.  All  the  strangers  had  English  co- 
lours flying. 

It  now  fell  quite  calm,  and  the  Constitution  hoisted  out 
her  boats,  and  sent  them  ahead  to  tow,  with  a  view  to  keep 
the  ship  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's  shot.  At  the  same 
time,  she  whipt  up  one  of  the  gun-deck  guns  to  the  spar- 
deck,  and  run  it  out  aft,  as  a  stern  chaser,  getting  a  long 
eighteen  off  the  forecastle  also,  for  a  similar  purpose.  Two 
more  of  the  twenty-fours  below  were  run  out  at  the  cabin 
windows,  with  the  same  object,  though  it  was  found  neces- 
sary to  cut  away  some  of  the  wood-work  of  the  stern  frame, 
in  order  to  make  room. 

By  6  o'clock  the  wind,  which  continued  very  light  and 
baffling,  came  out  from  the  northward  of  west,  when  the 
ship's  head  was  got  round  to  the  southward,  and  all  the 


156  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

light  canvass  that  would  draw  was  set.     Soon  after,  the 
nearest  frigate,  the  Shannon,  opened  with  her  bow  guns, 
and  continued  firing  for  about  ten  minutes,  but  perceiving  she 
could  not  reach  the  Constitution,  she  ceased.     At  half  past 
6,  Capt.  Hull  sounded  in  26  fathoms,  when,  finding  that  the 
enemy  was  likely  to  close,  as  he  was  enabled  to  put  the 
boats  of  two  ships  on  one,  and  was  also  favoured  by  a  little 
more  air  than  the  Constitution,  all  the  spare  rope  that  could 
be  found,  and  which  was  fit  for  the  purpose,  was  payed 
down  into  the  cutters,  bent  on,  and  a  kedge  was  run  out 
near  half  a  mile  ahead,  and  let  go.     At  a  signal  given,  the 
crew  clapped  on,  and  walked  away  with  the  ship,  overrun- 
ning and  tripping  the  kedge  as  she  came  up  with  the  end  of 
the  line.     While  this  was  doing,  fresh  lines  and  another 
kedge  was  carried  ahead,  and,  in  this  manner,  though  out 
of  sight  of  land,  the  frigate  had  glided  away  from  her  pur- 
suers, before  they  discovered  the  manner  in  which  it  was 
done.    It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  enemy  resorted 
to  the  same  expedient.    At  half  past  7,  the  Constitution  had  a 
little  air,  when  she  set  her  ensign,  and  fired  a  shot  at  the 
Shannon,  the  nearest  ship  astern.     At  8,  it  fell  calm  again, 
and  further  recourse  was  had  to  the  boats  and  the  k'edges, 
the  enemy's  vessels  having  a  light  air  and  drawing  ahead, 
towing,  sweeping  and  kedging.     By  9,  the  nearest  frigate, 
the  Shannon,  on  which  the  English  had  put  most  of  their 
boats,  was  closing  fast,  and  there  was  every  prospect,  not- 
withstanding the  steadiness  and  activity  of  the  Constitu- 
tion's people,  that  the  frigate  just  mentioned  would  get  near 
enough  to  cripple  her,  when  her  capture  by  the  rest  of  the 
squadron  would  be  inevitable.     At  this  trying  moment  the 
best  spirit  prevailed  in  the  ship.    Every  thing  was  stoppered, 
and  Capt.  Hull  was  not  without  hopes,  even  should  he  be 
forced  into  action,  of  throwing  the  Shannon  astern  by  his 
fire,  and  of  maintaining  his  distance  from  the  other  vessels. 
It  was  known  that  the  enemy  could  not  tow  very  near,  as  it 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  157 

would  have  been  easy  to  sink  his  boats  with  the  stern  guns 
of  the  Constitution,  and  not  a  man  in  the  latter  vessel 
showed  a  disposition  to  despondency.  Officers  and  men 
relieved  each  other  regularly  at  the  duty,  and  while  the 
former  threw  themselves  down  on  deck  to  catch  short  naps, 
the  people  slept  at  their  guns. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  critical  moments  of  the  chase. 
The  Shannon  was  fast  closing,  as  has  been  just  stated,  while 
the  Guerriere  was  almost  as  near  on  the  larboard  quarter. 
An  hour  promised  to  bring  the  struggle  to  an  issue,  when 
suddenly,  at  9  minutes  past  9,  a  light  air  from  the  southward 
struck  the  ship,  bringing  her  to  windward.  The  beautiful 
manner  in  which  this  advantage  was  improved,  excited  ad- 
miration even  in  the  enemy.  As  the  breeze  was  seen  com- 
ing, the  ship's  sails  were  trimmed,  and  as  soon  as  she  was 
under  command,  she  was  brought  close  up  to  the  wind,  on 
the  larboard  tack ;  the  boats  were  all  dropped  in  alongside ; 
those  that  belonged  to  the  davits  were  run  up,  while  the 
others  were  just  lifted  clear  of  the  water,  by  purchases  on 
the  spare  spars,  stowed  outboard,  where  they  were  in  rea- 
diness to  be  used  again  at  a  moment's  notice.  As  the  ship 
came  by  the  wind,  she  brought  the  Guerriere  nearly  on  her 
lee  beam,  when  that  frigate  opened  a  fire  from  her  broad- 
side. While  the  shot  of  this  vessel  were  just  falling  short  of 
them,  the  people  of  the  Constitution  were  hoisting  up  their 
boats  with  as  much  steadiness  as  if  the  duty  was  perform- 
ing in  a  friendly  port.  In  about  an  hour,  however,  it  fell 
nearly  calm  again,  when  Capt.  Hull  ordered  a  quantity  of 
the  water  started,  to  lighten  the  ship.  More  than  two  thou- 
sand gallons  were  pumped  out,  and  the  boats  were  sent 
ahead  again  to  tow.  The  enemy  now  put  nearly  all  his 
boats  on  the  Shannon,  the  nearest  ship  astern;  and  a  few 
hours  of  prodigious  exertion  followed,  the  people  of  the 
Constitution  being  compelled  to  supply  the  place  of  num- 
bers by  their  activity  and  zeal.  The  ships  were  close  by 


158  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  wind,  and  every  thing  that  would  draw  was  set,  and 
the  Shannon  was  slowly,  but  steadily,  forging  ahead.  About 
noon  of  this  day,  there  was  a  little  relaxation  from  la- 
bour, owing  to  the  occasional  occurrence  of  cat's-paws,  by 
watching  which  closely,  the  ship  was  urged  through  the 
water.  But  at  a  quarter  past  12,  the  boats  were  again  sent 
ahead,  and  the  toilsome  work  of  towing  and  kedging  was 
renewed. 

At  1  o'clock  a  strange  sail  was  discovered  nearly  to 
leeward.  At  this  moment  the  four  frigates  of  the  enemy 
were  about  one  point  on  the  lee-quarter  of  the  Constitution, 
at  long  gun  shot,  the  Africa  and  the  two  prizes  being  on  the 
lee-beam.  As  the  wind  was  constantly  baffling,  any  moment 
might  have  brought  a  change,  and  placed  the  enemy  to 
windward.  At  seven  minutes  before  two,  the  Belvidera, 
then  the  nearest  ship,  began  to  fire  with  her  bow  guns,  and 
the  Constitution  opened  with  her  stern  chasers.  On  board 
the  latter  ship,  however,  it  was  soon  found  to  be  dangerous 
to  use  the  main-deck  guns,  the  transoms  having  so  much 
rake,  the  windows  being  so  high,  and  the  guns  so  short, 
that  every  explosion  lifted  the  upper  deck,  and  threatened 
to  blow  out  the  stern  frame.  Perceiving,  moreover,  that 
his  shot  did  little  or  no  execution,  Capt.  Hull  ordered  the 
firing  to  cease,  at  half  past  2. 

For  several  hours,  the  enemy's  frigates  were  now  within 
gun-shot,  sometimes  towing  and  kedging,  and  at  others  en- 
deavouring to  close  with  the  puffs  of  air  that  occasionally 
passed.  At  7  in  the  evening,  the  boats  of  the  Constitution 
were  again  ahead,  the  ship  steering  S.  W.  ^  W.,  with  an 
air  so  light  as  to  be  almost  imperceptible.  At  half,  past  7, 
she  sounded  in  24  fathoms.  For  four  hours,  the  same  toil- 
some duty  was  going  on,  until  a  little  before  11,  when  a 
light  air  from  the  southward  struck  the  ship,  and  the  sails 
for  the  first  time  in  many  weary  hours,  were  asleep.  The 
boats  instantly  dropped  along  side,  hooked  on,  and  were  all 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  159 

run  up,  with  the  exception  of  the  first  cutter.  The  top-gal- 
lant studding-sails  and  stay-sails  were  set  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, and  for  about  an  hour,  the  people  caught  a  little  rest. 

But  at  midnight  it  fell  nearly  calm  again,  though  neither 
the  pursuers  nor  the  pursued  had  recourse  to  the  boats, 
probably  from  an  unwillingness  to  disturb  their  crews.  At 
2  A.  M.,  it  was  observed  on  board  the  Constitution  th&t  the 
Guerriere  had  forged  ahead,  and  was  again  off  their  lee 
beam.  At  this  time,  the  top-gallant  studding-sails  were 
taken  in. 

In  this  manner  passed  the  night,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  next  day,  it  was  found  that  three  of  the  enemy's  frigates 
were  within  long  gun-shot  on  the  lee-quarter,  and  the  other 
at  about  the  same  distance  on  the  lee-beam.  The  Africa, 
and  the  prizes,  were'  much  farther  to  leeward. 

A  little  after  daylight,  the  Guerriere,  having  drawn 
ahead  sufficiently  to  be  forward  of  the  Constitution's  beam, 
tacked,  when  the  latter  ship  did  the  same,  in  order  to  pre- 
serve her  position  to  windward.  An  hour  later  the  ^Eolus 
passed  on  the  contrary  tack,  so  near  that  it  was  thought  by 
some  who  observed  the  movement,  that  she  ought  to  have 
opened  her  fire ;  but,  as  that  vessel  was  merely  a  twelve 
pounder  frigate,  and  she  was  still  at  a  considerable  distance, 
it  is  quite  probable  her  commander  acted  judiciously.  By 
this  time,  there  was  sufficient  wind  to  induce  Capt.  Hull  to 
hoist  in  his  first  cutter. 

The  scene,  on  the  morning  of  this  day,  was  very  beauti- 
ful, and  of  great  interest  to  the  lovers  of  nautical  exhibitions. 
The  weather  was  mild  and  lovely,  the  sea  smooth  as  a 
pond,  and  there  was  quite  wind  enough  to  remove  the  ner 
cessity  of  any  of  the  extraordinary  means  of  getting  ahead, 
that  had  been  so  freely  used  during  the  previous  eight  and 
forty  hours.  All  the  English  vessels  had  got  on  the  same 
tack  with  the  Constitution  again,  and  the  five  frigates  were 
clouds  of  canvass,  from  their  trucks  to  the  water.  In- 
cluding the  American  ship,  eleven  sail  were  in  sight,  and 


160  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

;  >  • 

shortly  after  a  twelfth  appeared  to  windward,  that  was  soon 
ascertained  to  be  an  American  merchantman.  But  the 
enemy  were  too  intent  on  the  Constitution,  to  regard  any 
thing  else,  and  though  it  would  have  been  easy  to  capture 
the  ships  to  leeward,  no  attention  appears  to  have  been 
paid  to  them.  With  a  view,  however,  to  deceive  the  ship  to 
windward  they  hoisted  American  colours,  when  the  Consti- 
tution set  an  English  ensign,  by  way  of  warning  the  stran- 
ger to  keep  aloof. 

Until  10  o'clock  the  Constitution  was  making  every  pre- 
paration for  carrying  sail  hard  should  it  become  necessary, 
and  she  sounded  in  25  fathoms.  At  noon  the  wind  fell 
again,  though  it  was  found  that  while  the  breeze  lasted, 
she  had  gained  on  all  of  the  enemy's  ships ;  more,  how- 
ever, on  some,  than  on  others.  The  nearest  vessel  was  the 
Belvidera,  which  was  exactly  in  the  wake  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, distant  about  two  and  a  half  miles,  bearing  W.  N.  W. 
The  nearest  frigate  to  leeward,  bore  N.  by  W.  ^  W.  distant 
three  or  three  and  a  half  miles;  the  two  other  frigates  were 
on  the  lee-quarter,  distant  about  five  miles,  and  the  Africa 
was  hull  down  to  leeward,  on  the  opposite  tack. 

This  was  a  vast  improvement  on  the  state  of  things 
that  had  existed  the  day  previously,  and  it  allowed  the  offi- 
cers and  men  to  catch  a  little  rest,  though  no  one  left  the 
decks.  The  latitude  by  observation  this  day,  was  38°,  47° 
N.,  and  the  longitude  by  dead  reckoning  73°  57  W. 

At  meridian  the  wind  began  to  blow  a  pleasant  breeze, 
and  the  sound  of  the  water  rippling  under  the  bows  of  the 
vessel  was  again  heard.  From  this  moment  the  noble  old 
ship  slowly  drew  ahead  of  all  her  pursuers,  the  sails  being 
watched  and  tended  in  the  best  manner  that  consummate 
seamanship  could  dictate,  until  4  P.  M.,  when  the  Belvidera 
was  more  than  four  miles  astern,  and  the  other  vessels  were 
thrown  behind  in  the  same  proportion,  though  the  wind  had 
again  got  to  be  very  light. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  161 

In  this  manner  both  parties  kept  pressing  ahead  and  to 
windward,  as  fast  as  circumstances  would  allow,  profiting 
by  every  change,  and  resorting  to  all  the  means  of  forcing 
vessels  through  the  water,  that  are  known  to  seamen.  At 
a  little  before  7,  however,  there  was  every  appearance  of  a 
heavy  squall,  accompanied  by  rain;  when  ,the  Constitu- 
tion prepared  to  meet  it  with  the  coolness  and  discretion 
.  she  had  displayed  throughout  the  whole  affair.  The  peo- 
ple were  stationed,  and  every  thing  was  kept  fast  to  the  last 
moment,  when,  just  before  the  squall  struck  the  ship,  the 
order  was  given  to  clew  up  and  clew  down.  All  the  light 
canvass  was  furled,  a  second  reef  was  taken  in  the  mizzen 
top-sail,  and  the  ship  was  brought  uqder  short  sail,  in  an  in- 
credibly little  time.  The  English  vessels,  observing  this, 
began  to  let  go  and  haul  down  without  waiting  for  the  wind, 
and  when  they  were  shut  in  by  the  rain,  they  were  steering 
in  different  directions  to  avoid  the  force  of  the  expected 
squall.  The  Constitution,  on  the  other  hand,  no  sooner  got 
its  weight,  than  she  sheeted  home  and  hoisted  her  fore  and 
main-top-gallant  sails,  and  while  the  enemy  most  probably 
believed  her  to  be  borne  down  by  the  pressure  of  the  wind, 
steering  free,  she  was. flying  away  from  them,  on  an  easy 
bowline,  at  the  rate  of  eleven  knots. 

In  a  little  less  than  an  hour  after  the  squall  had  struck  the 
ship,  it  had  entirely  passed  to  leeward,  and  a  sight  was 
again  obtained  of  the  enemy.  The  Belvidera,  the  nearest 
vessel,  had  altered  her  bearings,  in  that  short  period,  nearly 
two  points  more  to  leeward,  and  she  was  a  long,  way 
astern.  The  next  nearest  vessel  was  still  further  to  lee- 
ward, and  more  distant,  while  the  two  remaining  frigates 
were  fairly  hull  down.  The  Africa  was  barely  visible  in 
the  horizon! 

All  apprehensions  of  the  enemy  now  ceased,  though  sail 
was  carried  to  increase  the  distance,  and  to  preserve  the 
weather  gage.  At  half  past  10  the  wind  backed  further  to 

VOL.  II.— 14 


162  NAV-AL  HISTORY. 

the  southward,  when  the  Constitution,  which  had  "been 
steering  free  for  some  time,  took  in  her  lower  studding 
sails.  At  11  the  enemy  fired  two  guns,  and  the  nearest  ship 
could  just  be  discovered.  As  the  wind  baffled,  and  con- 
tinued light,  the  enemy  still  persevered  in  the  chase,  but  at 
daylight  the  nearest  vessel  was  hull  down  astern  and  to  lee- 
ward. Under  the  circumstances  it  was  deemed  prudent  to 
use  every  exertion  to  lose  sight  of  the  English  frigates;  and 
the  wind  falling  light,  the  Constitution's  sails  were  wet 
down  from  the  skysails  to  the  courses.  The  good  effects 
of  this  care  were  sOori  visible,  as  at  6  A.  M.  the  topsails  of 
the  enemy's  nearest  vessels  were  beginning  to  dip.  At  a 
quarter  past  8,  the  English  ships  all  hauled  to  the  northward 
and  eastward,  fully  satisfied,  by  a  trial  that  had  lasted 
nearly  three  days  and  as  many  nights,  under  all  the  circum- 
stances that  can  attend  naval  mano3uvres,  from  reefed  top- 
sails to  kedging,  that  they  had  no  hope  of  overtaking  their 
enemy. 

Thus  terminated  a  chase,  that  has  become  historical  in 
the  American  navy,  for  its  length,  closeness  and  activity. 
On  the  part  of  the  English,  there  were  manifested  much  per- 
severance and  seamanship,  a  ready  imitation,  and  a  strong 
desire  to  get  along  side  of  their  enemy.  But  the  glory  of  the 
affair  was  carried  off  by  the  officers  and  people  of  the  Con- 
stitution. Throughout  all  the  trying  circumstances  of  this 
arduous  struggle,  this  noble  frigate,  which  had  so  lately 
been  the  subject  of  the  sneers  of  the  English  critics,  main- 
tained the  high  character  of  a  man-of-war.  Even  when 
pressed  upon  the  hardest,  nothing  was  hurried,  confused  or 
slovenly,  but  the  utmost  steadiness,  order  and  discipline 
reigned  in  the  ship.  A  cool,  discreet  and  gallant  comman- 
der, was  nobly  sustained  by  his  officers;  and  there  cannot 
be  a  doubt  that  had  the  enemy  succeeded  in  getting  any 
one  of  their  frigates  fairly  under  the  fire  of  the  American 
ship,  that  she  would  have  bee'n  very  roughly  treated.  The 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  163 

escape  itself,  is  not  so  much  a  matter  of  admiration,  as  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  effected.  A  little  water  was  pumped 
out,  it  is  true ;  and  perhaps  this  was  necessary,  in  order-  to 
put  a  vessel  fresh  from  port  on  a  level,  in  light  winds  and 
calms,  with  ships  that  had  been  cruising  some  time;  but  not 
an  anchor  was  cut  away,  not  a  boat  stove,  nor  a  gun  lost. 
The  steady  and  man-of-war  like  style  in  which  the  Consti- 
tution took  in  all  her  boats,  as  occasions  offered;  the  order 
and  rapidity  with  which  she  kedged,  and  the  vigilant  sea- 
manship with  which  she  was  braced  up,  and  eased  off,  ex- 
torted admiration  among  the  more  liberal  of  her  pursuers. 
In  this  affair,  the  ship,  no  less  than  those  who  worked  her, 
gained  a  high  reputation,  if  not  with  the  world  generally, 
at  least  with  those  who,  perhaps,  as  seldom  err  in  their 
nautical  criticisms  as  any  people  living. 

The  English  relinquished  their  pursuit  at  8  A.  M.,  and  at 
half  past  8  the  Constitution,  discovering  a  vessel  on  her 
starboard  bow,  made  sail  in  chase.  At  three  quarters  past 
9  brought  to,  and  spoke  an  American  brig.  At  10  made 
sail  again  in  chase  of  another  vessel  on  the  lee  bow,  which 
also  proved  to  be  an  American,  bound  in.  At  meridian 
hoisted  in  the  boat  used  in  boarding,  took  a  second  reef  in 
the  top-sails,  and  stood  to  the  eastward,  the  ship  going  into 
Boston  near  the  middle  of  the  same  month. 

A  few  days  after  the  chase  of  the  Constitution,  the  Eng- 
lish squadron  separated,  the  Africa  returning  to  port  with 
the  prisoners  and  prizes,  and  the  frigates  shaping  their 
courses  in  different  directions,  in  the  hope  that  the  ship 
which  had  avoided  them  so  carefully  when  in  company, 
might  be  less  averse  to  meeting  either  singly. 

The  Essex  32,  Capt.  Porter,  got  to  sea  from  New  York, 
not  long  after  the  departure  of  Com.  Rodgers,  and  went 
first  to  the  southward.  She  made  several  prizes  early,  de- 
stroying most  of  them,  and  receiving  the  prisoners  on 
board.  The  weather  now  compelled  the  Essex  to  run  -to 


164  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  northward.  When  a  few  weeks  from  port,  a  small 
fleet  was  approached  at  night,  which  was  immediately  un- 
derstood to  be  enemies.  The  English  ships  were  steer- 
ing to  the  northward,  before  the  wind,  and  the  Essex  was 
stretching  towards  them,  on  an  easy  bowline,  and  under 
short  canvass.  The  night  had  a  dull  moon,  and  it  wanted 
but  an  hour  or  two  to  day-light.  As  the  Essex  drew  near, 
it  was  perceived  that  the  English  were  sailing  in  very 
open  order,  with  considerable  intervals  between  them,  and 
that  the  convoying  ship,  a  large  vessel,  was  some  distance 
ahead,  and  of  course  to  leeward. 

As  it  was  the  intention  of  Capt.  Porter  to  preserve  the 
weather  gage,  until  he  ascertained  who  and  what  the 
convoy  might  be,  he  stretched  in  towards  the  sternmost 
ship  of  the  strangers,  which  he  spoke.  At  this  time,  the 
people  of  the  Essex  were  at  their  guns,  with  every  thing 
ready  to  engage,  but  keeping  the  men  on  deck  concealed, 
and  having  their  lower  ports  in.  After  some  conversation 
with  the  first  vessel,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  fleet  consisted 
of  a  few  transports,  under  the  convoy  of  a  frigate  and  bomb- 
vessel,  when  Capt.  Porter  determined  to  get  along  side  of 
the  former,  if  possible,  and  to  carry  her  by  surprise.  With 
this  view,  the  Essex  shot  ahead,  leaving  the  first  vessel,  ap- 
parently, without  exciting  her  suspicions.  On  ranging  up 
close  abeam  of  a  second,  some  further  discourse  passed, 
when  the  Englishman  so  far  took  the  alarm,  as  to  announce 
an  intention  to  make  the  signal  of  a  stranger's  having  join- 
ed the  fleet.  It  became  necessary,  therefore,  to  throw  aside 
disguise,  and  to  order  the  transport  to  haul  out  of  the  con- 
voy, under  the  penalty  of  being  fired  into.  This  was  done 
quietry,  and  seemingly  without  attracting  the  attention  of 
the  rest  of  the  fleet,  which,  of  course,  passed  to  leeward. 
On  taking  possession  of  her  prize,  the  Essex  found  her  filled 
with  soldiers,  and  so  much  time  was  necessarily  consumed 
in  securing  the  latter,  that  the  day  dawned,  and  it  became 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  165 

inexpedient  to  renew  the  attempt  on  the  convoy.  The  fri- 
gate was  said  to  be  the  Minerva  36,  and  the  troops  in  the 
convoy  amounted  to  about  1000  men.  About  150  were 
taken  in  the  prize. 

A  few  days  after  this  success,  the  Essex  made  a  strange 
sail  to  windward.  At  the  moment,  the  frigate  was  disguised 
as  a  merchantman,  having  her  gun-deck  ports  in,  top-gal- 
lant masts  housed,  and  sails  trimmed  in  a  slovenly  manner. 
Deceived  by  these  appearances,  the  stranger  came  running 
down  free,  when  the  American  ship  showed  her  ensign  and 
kept  away,  under  short  sail.  This  emboldened  the  stranger, 
who  followed,  and  having  got  on  the  weather  quarter  of  his 
chase,  he  began  his  fire,  setting  English  colours.  The  Es- 
sex now  knocked  out  her  ports,  and  opened  upon  the  ene- 
my, who  appears  to  have  been  so  much  taken  by  surprise, 
that  after  receiving  one  or  two  discharges,  his  people  desert- 
ed their  quarters,  and  ran  below.  In  eight  minutes  after  the 
Essex  had  begun  to  fire,  the  English  ship  struck.  On  sending 
Lieut.  Finch*  on  board  to  take  possession,  the  prize  proved 
to  be  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship  Alert,  Capt.  Laugharne, 
mounting  20  eighteen-pound  carronades,  and  with  a  full 
crew.  Mr.  Finch  found  seven  feet  of  water  in  the  Alert, 
and  was  obliged  to  ware  round,  to  keep  her  from  sinking. 

The  Alert  was  the  first  vessel  of  war  taken  from  the 
English  in  this  contest,  and  her  resistance  was  so  feeble  as  to 
excite  surprise.  It  was  not  to  be  expected,  certainly,  that 
a  ship  carrying  eighteen-pound  carronades,  could  suc- 
cessfully resist  a  ship  carrying  thirty-two-pound  carro- 
nades, and  double  her  number  of  guns  and  men;  but  so  ex- 
aggerated had  become  the  opinion  of  British  prowess  on 
the  ocean,  that  impossibilities  were  sometimes  looked  for. 
As  it  is  understood  that  only  a  part  of  the  Essex's  guns  bore 
on  the  Alert,  the  manner  in  which  the  latter  was  taken, 

*  Now  Capt.  Bolton. 
14* 


166  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

must  be  attributed  to  a  sudden  panic  among  her  people, 
some  of  whom  were  executed  for  deserting  their  quarters, 
after  their  exchange.  The  officers  appear  to  have  behaved 
well.  The  Alert  had  but  three  men  wounded,  and  the  Es- 
sex sustained  no  injury  at  all. 

Capt.  Porter,  with  the  addition  made  by  the  crew  of  the 
Alert,  had  many  prisoners,  and  as  he  was  apprised  of 
their  intention  to  rise,  in  the  event  of  an  engagement,  he 
felt  the  necessity  of  getting  rid  of  them.  He  accordingly 
entered  into  an  arrangement  with  Capt.  Laugharne,  to  con- 
vert the  Alert,  which  was  a  large  ship  bought  for  the  ser- 
vice, into  a  cartel,  and  to  send  her  into  St.  John's.  This 
project,  so  favourable  to  the  American  interests,  was  suc- 
cessfully accomplished ;  and  it  is  due  to  his  character  to 
say,  that  the  officer  in  command  at  Newfoundland,  Admi- 
ral Sir  J.  T.  Duckworth,  while  he  protested  against  the 
course,  as  unusual  and  injurious  to  a  nation  like  England, 
which  had  so  many  cruisers  at  sea,  by  depriving  her  of  the 
chances  of  recapture,  honourably  complied  with  the  con- 
ditions entered  into  by  his  inferior. 

The  Essex  continued  to  cruise  to  the  southward  of  the 
Grand  Banks.  "On  two  occasions,  she  fell  in  with  enemy's 
frigates,  and  at  one  time  was  so  hard  pressed,  as  to  be  re- 
duced to  the  necessity  of  making  every  preparation  to  car- 
ry one  by  boarding  in  the  night,  since,  another  English  vessel 
of  war  being  in  company,  an  engagement  in  the  usual 
manner  would  have  been  indiscreet.  The  arrangements 
made  on  board  the  Essex,  on  this  occasion,  are  still  spoken 
of  with  admiration,  -by  those  who  were  in  the  ship,  and 
there  is  great  reason  to  think  they  would  have  succeeded, 
had  the  vessels  met.  By  some  accident,  that  has  never 
been  explained,  the  ships  passed  each  other  in  the  darkness, 
and  shortly  after,  the  Essex  came  into  the  Delaware  to  re- 
plenish her  water  and. stores. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  Constitution  was  not  idle.  Remain- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  167 

ing  at  Boston  a  short  time  after  his  celebrated  chase,  Capt. 
Hull  sailed  again  on  the  2d  of  August,  standing  along  the 
land  to  the  eastward,  in  the  hope  of  falling  in  with  some  of 
the  enemy's  cruisers,  that  were  thought  to  be  hovering  on 
the  coast.  The  ship  ran  down,  near  the  land,  as  far  as  the 
Bay  of  Fundy,  without  seeing  any  thing,  when  she  went  off 
Halifax  and  Cape  Sable,  with  the  same  want  of  success. 
Capt.  Hull  now  determined  to  go  farther  east,  and  he  went 
near  the  Isle  of  Sables,  and  thence  to  the  mouth  of  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  to  intercept  vessels  bound  to  Halifax  or 
Quebec.  Here  two  prizes,  of  little  value,  were  taken  and 
burned.  On  the  morning  of  the  15th,  five  sail  were  made, 
>ne  of  which  was  a  sloop  of  war.  The  Constitution  gave 
chase,  and  the  enemy  soon  set  one  of  his  vessels,  a  prize 
brig,  on  fire.  The  chases  now  separated,  and  the  sloop  of 
war  being  to  windward,  the  Constitution  followed  a  ship, 
which  turned  out  to  be  an  Englishman,  already  a  prize  to 
an  American  privateer.  This  vessel  had  been  spoken  by 
the  sloop  of  war,  but  the  appearance  of  the  Constitution 
prevented  her  recapture.  A  brig  was  next  qhased  to  lee- 
ward, and  proved  to  be  an  American,  with  a  prize  crew  on 
board.  She  was  retaken,  and  sent  in.  The  remainder  of 
the  vessels  escaped. 

The  Constitution  next  stood  to  the  southward,  and  on  the 
19th,  at  2  P.  M.,  in  lat.  41°  41',  long.  55C  48',  a  sail  was 
made  from  the  mast  heads,  bearing  E.  S.  E.,  and  to  lee- 
ward, though  the  distance  prevented  her  character  from 
being  discovered.  The  Constitution  immediately  made  sail 
in  chase,  and  at  3,  the  stranger  was  ascertained  to  be  a  ship 
on  the  starboard  tack,  under  easy  canvass,  and  close  haul- 
ed. Half  an  hour  later,  she  was  distinctly  made  out  to  be 
a  frigate,  and  no  doubt  was  entertained  of  her  being  an 
enemy.  The  American  ship  kept  running  free  until  she  • 
was  within  a  league  of  the  frigate  to  leeward,  when  she  be- 


108  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

gan  to  shorten  sail.  By  this  time,  the  enemy  had  laid  his 
main-top-sail  aback,  in  waiting  for  the  Constitution  to 
come  down,  with  every  thing  ready  to  engage.  Perceiving 
that  the  Englishman  sought  a  combat,  Capt.  Hull  made  his 
own  preparations  with  the  greater  deliberation.  The  Con- 
stitution, consequently,  furled  her  top-gallant-sails,  and  stow- 
ed all  her  light  stay-sails  and  flying  jib.  Soon  after,  she  took  a 
second  reef  in  the  topsails,  hauled  up  the  courses,  sent  down 
royal  yards,  cleared  for  action,  and  beat  to  quarters.  At  5, 
the  chase  hoisted  three  English  ensigns,  and  immediately 
after  she  opened  her  fire,  at  long  gun-shot,  waring  several 
times,  to  rake  and  prevent  being  raked.  The  Constitution 
occasionally  yawed  as  she  approached,  to  avoid  being 
raked,  and  she  fired  a  few  guns  as  they  bore,  but  her  aim 
was  not  to  commence  the  action  seriously,  until  quite  close. 
At  6  o'clock,  the  enemy  bore  up  and  ran  off,  under  his 
three  topsails  and  jib,  with  the  wind  on  his  quarter.  As 
this  was  an  indication  of  a  readiness  to  receive  his  antago- 
nist, in  a  fair  yard-arm-and-yard-arm  fight,  the  Constitution 
immediately  set  her  main-top-gallant-sail  and  fore-sail,  to 
get  along  side.  At  a  little  after  6,  the  bows  of  the  American 
frigate  began  to  double  on  the  quarter  of  the  English  ship* 
when  she  opened  with  her  forward  guns,  drawing  slowly 
ahead,  with  her  greater  way,  both  vessels  keeping  up  a 
close  and  heavy  fire,  as  their  guns  bore.  In  about  ten 
minutes,  or  just  as  the  ships  were  fairly  side  by  side,  the 
mizzen-mast  of  the  Englishman  was  shot  away,  when  the 
American  passed  slowly  ahead,  keeping  up  a  tremendous 
fire,  and  luffed  short  round  his  bows,  to  prevent  being 
raked.  In  executing  this  manoeuvre,  the  ship  shot  into 
the  wind,  got  stern-way,  and  fell  foul  of  her  antagonist. 
While  in  this  situation,  the  cabin  of  the  Constitution  took 
fire,  from  the  close  explosion  of  the  forward  guns  of  the 
enemy,  who  obtained  a  small,  but  momentary  advantage 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  169 

from  his  position.  The  good  conduct  of  Mr.  Hoffman,* 
who  commanded  in  the  cabin,  soon  repaired  this  acci- 
dent, and  a  gun  of  the  enemy's,  that  threatened  further  in- 
jury, was  disabled. 

As  the  vessels  touched,  both  parties  prepared  to  board. 
The  English  turned  all  hands  up  from  below,  and  mustered 
forward,  with  that  object,  while  Mr.  Morris,  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, Mr.  Alwyn,  the  master,  and  Mr.  Bush,  the  lieutenant 
of  marines,  sprang  upon  the  taflrail  of  the  Constitution,  with 
a  similar  intention.  Both  sides  now  suffered  by  the  close- 
ness of  the  musketry ;  the  English  much  the  most,  however. 
Mr.  Morris  was  shot  through  the  body,  but  maintained  his 
post,  the  bullet  fortunately  missing  the  vitals.  Mr.  Alwyn 
was  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  and  Mr.  Bush  fell  dead,  by  a 
bullet  through  the  head*  It  being  found  impossible  for 
either  party  to  board,  in  the  face  of  such  a  fire,  and  with 
the  heavy  sea  that  was  on,  the  sails  were  filled,  and  just  as 
the  Constitution  shot  ahead,  the  fore-mast  of  the  enemy  fell, 
carrying  down  with  it  his  main-mast,  and  leaving  him  wal- 
lowing in  the  trough  of  the  sea,  a  helpless  wreck. 

The  Constitution  now  hauled  aboard  her  tacks,  ran  off  a 
short  distance,  secured  her  masts,  and  rove  new  rigging. 
At  7,  she  wore  round,  and  taking  a  favourable  position  for 
raking,  a  jack  that  had  been  kept  flying  on  the  stump  of 
the  mizzen-mast  of  the  enemy,  was  lowered.  Mr.  George 
Campbell  Read,f  the  third  lieutenant,  was  sent  on  board  the 
prize,  and  the  boat  soon  returned  with  the  report  that  the  cap- 
tured vessel  was  the  Guerriere  38,  Capt.  Dacres,  one  of  the 
ships  that  had  so  lately  chased  the  Constitution,  off  New- 
York. 

The  Constitution  kept  waring  to  remain  near  her  prize, 

*  Beekman  Verplanck  Hoffman,  the  fourth  lieutenant  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, a  gentleman  of  New-York,  who  died  in  1834,  a  captain. 
f  Cora.  Read,  at  present  in  command  of  the  East  India  squadron. 


170  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

and  at  2  A.  M.,  a  strange  sail  was  seen  closing,  when  she 
cleared  for  action ;  but  at  3,  the  stranger  stood  off.  At 
day-light,  the  officer  in  charge  hailed  to  say  that  the  Guer- 
riere  had  four  feet  water  in  her  hold,  and  that  there  was 
danger  of  her  sinking.  On  receiving  this  information,  Capt. 
Hull  sent  all  his  boats  to  remove  the  prisoners.  Fortunate- 
ly, the  weather  was  moderate,  and  by  noon  this  duty  \vas 
nearly  ended.  At  3  P.  M.,  the  prize  crew  was  recalled, 
having  set  the  wreck  on  fire,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
she  blew  up.  Finding  himself  filled  with  wounded  prisoners, 
Capt.  Hull  now  returned  to  Boston,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
30th  of  the  same  month- 

It  is  not  easy,  at  this  distant  day,  to  convey  to  the  reader 
the  full  force  of  the  moral  impression  created  in  America 
by  this  victory  of  one  frigate  over  another.  So  deep  had 
been  the  effect  produced  on  the  public  mind  by  the  constant 
accounts  of  the  successes  of  the  English  over  their  enemies 
at  sea,  that  the  opinion,  already  mentioned,  of  their  invinci- 
bility on  that  element,  generally  prevailed ;  and  it  had  been 
publicly  predicted  that,  before  the  contest  had  continued  six 
months,  British  sloops  of  war  would  lie  alongside  of  Ameri- 
can frigates  with  comparative  impunity.  Perhaps  the  only 
portion  of  even  the  American  population  that  expected  dif- 
ferent results,  was  that  which  composed  the  little  body  of  offi- 
cers on  whom  the  trial  would  fall,  and  they  looked  forward 
to  the  struggle  with  a  manly  resolution,  rather  than  with  a 
very  confident  hope.*  But  the  termination  of  the  combat 

*  About  two  months  before  war  was  declared,  the  officers  of  two  of  the 
frigates  passed  an  evening1  together,  when  the  subject  of  what  would  be 
the  probable  result  of  a  conflict  between  American  and  English  ships, 
was  seriously  and  temperately  discussed.  The  conclusion  was,  that,  in  the 
judgment  of  these  gentlemen,  at  that  interesting  moment,  their  own 
chances  of  victory  were  at  least  equal  to  those  of  the  enemy.  On  the 
other  hand,  Gen.  Moreau,  when  witnessing  the  evolutions  of  some  Ame- 
rican ships  in  port,  about  the  same  time,  after  expressing  his  admiration 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  171 

just  related,  far  exceeded  the  expectations  of  even  the  most 
sanguine.  After  making  all  proper  allowance  for  the  dif- 
ference of  force,  which  certainly  existed  in  favour  of  the 
Constitution,  as  well  as  for  the  excuses  that  the  defeated 
party  freely  offered  to  the  world,  men  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic,  who  were  competent  to  form  intelligent  opinions 
on  such  subjects,  saw  the  promise  of  many  future  successes 
in  this.  The  style  in  which  the  Constitution  ha$  been 
handled ;  the  deliberate  and  yet  earnest  manner  in  which  she 
had  been  carried  into  battle;  the  extraordinary  execution 
that  had  been  made  in  so  short  a  time  by  her  fire;  the  rea- 
diness and  gallantry  with  which  she  had  cleared  for  action, 
so  soon  after  destroying  one  British  frigate,  in  which  was 
manifested  a  disposition  to  meet  another,  united  to  pro- 
duce a  deep  conviction  of  self-reliance,  coolness  and  skill, 
that  was  of  infinitely  more  weight  than  the  transient  feeling 
which  might  result  from  any  accidental  triumph. 

In  this  combat,  the -Constitution  suffered  a  good  deal  in 
her  rigging  and  sails,  but  very  little  in  her  hull.  Her  loss 
was  7  killed,  and  7  wounded.  As  soon  as  she  had  rove  new 
rigging,  applied  the  necessary  stoppers,  and  bent  a  few  sails, 
as  has  been  seen,  she  was  ready  to  engage  another  frigate. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Guerriere  was  completely  dismasted, 
had  79  men  killed  and  wounded,  and,  according  to  the 
statement  of  her  commander  in  his  defence,  before  the 
court  which  tried  him  for  the  loss  of  his  ship,  she  had  re- 
ceived no  less  than  thirty  shot  as  low  as  five  sheets  of  cop- 
per beneath  the  bends!  All  this  execution  had  been  done 
between  the  time  when  the  ships  opened  their  fire  abeam, 
and  the  moment  when  the  Guerriere's  masts  fell;  for  the 
few  shot  thrown  by  the  Constitution,  previously  to  the  first 
event,  were  virtually  of  no  use,  and,  subsequently  to  the  last, 

•"•'.f4''"  :    '       : 
of  their  appearance,   gave  an    opinion  that  it  was   impossible  men  so 

inexperienced  should  prevail  over  English  vessels. 


172  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

she  did  not  discharge  a  gun.  The  whole  period,  between 
the  time  when  the  Guerriere  commenced  her  fire  at  long 
shot,  and  that  when  she  actually  hauled  down  her  jack, 
something  like  two  hours,  was  included  in  the  enemy's  ac- 
counts of  the  duration  of  the  combat;  but  it  is  well  under- 
stood by  professional  men,  that  in  truth,  the  battle  was  de- 
cided in  about  a  fourth  of  that  time. 

It  was  natural  that  a  success  so  brilliant  and  unexpected 
should  produce  a  reaction  in  public  feeling ;  and  in  dwelling 
on  their  victory,  exaggerated  and  vain-glorious  boastings 
mingled  in  the  exultation  of  the  American  journals  of  the 
period,  while  illiberal  and  fraudulent  detraction  made  up 
the  accounts  of  a  portion  of  the  English  writers,  when  apo- 
logizing for  the  defeat.  As  is  usual,  on  such  occasions,  each 
side  endeavoured  to  make  the  most  of  circumstances;  and  it 
is  the  province  of  the  historian  to  correct,  as  far  as  it  is  in 
his  power,  these  misrepresentations  and  mistakes.  That  the 
Constitution  was  a  larger  and  a  heavier  ship  than  the  Guer- 
riere, will  be  disputed  by  no  nautical  man,  though  it  is  be- 
lieved that  the  actual  difference  between  these  vessels  was 
considerably  less  than  might  be  inferred  from  their  respec- 
tive rates.  It  is  understood  that  the  Guerriere  was  nearly 
as  long  a  ship  as  her  adversary,  and  it  has  been  asserted  on 
respectable  authority,  that  she  was  actually  pierced  for  54 
guns,  though  it  is  admitted  that  she  had  but  49  mounted  in 
the  action,  one  of  which  was  a  light  boat-carronade.*  Her 
gun-deck  metal  was  eighteen-pounders,  and  her  carronades, 
like  those  of  the  Constitution,  were  thirty-twos.  The  Guer- 
riere was  a  French-built  ship,  but  we  have  no  means  of 
ascertaining  whether  her  guns  were,  or  were  not,  French 

*  It  is  stated  on  authority  deemed  worthy  of  credit,  that  the  Guerriere 
was  pierced  for  30  guns  on  the  gun-deck,  but  that  she  had  no  bridle- 
port,  below.  Five  ports  that  could  have  been  fought  in  broadside,  are 
said  to  have  been  empty  on  board  the  Guerriere,  when  the  Americans 
took  possession. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  173 

eighteens.  If  the  latter,  her  shot  of  this  denomination  would 
have  weighed  near  19^  pounds,  while,  at  that  period,  it  is 
believed  that  the  24  pound  shot  of  America  seldom  much 
exceeded  22  pounds.  Some  experiments  made  at  the  time, 
are  said  to  have  shown  that  the  difference  .  between  the 
metal  of  these  two  ships  was  much  less  than  would  have 
appeared  from  the  nominal  power  of  their  guns.*  The 
great  inferiority  of  the  Guerriere,  certainly,  was  in  her 
men.  Capt.  Dacres,  whose  authority  on  this  point  there  is 
no  reason  to  question,  says  that  he  mustered  but  263  souls 
at  quarters,  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of  one  lieutenant, 
two  midshipmen,  and  a  part  of  his  people,  in  prizes.  He 
also  admits  the  important  fact  that  there  were  several  Ame- 
ricans among  his  crew,  who  refused  to  fight,  and,  much  to 
his  credit,  he  permitted  them  to  go  below.  This  number 
has  been  stated  at  ten,  in  other  British  accounts. 

After  making  every  allowance  that  was  claimed  by  the 
enemy,  the  character  of  this  victory  is  not  essentially  alter- 
ed. Its  peculiarities  were  a  fine  display  of  seamanship  in  the 
approach,  extraordinary  efficiency  in  the  attack,  and  great 
readiness  in  repairing  damages;  all  of  which  denote  cool  and 
capable  officers,  with  an  expert  and  trained  crew;  in  a 
word,  a  disciplined  man  of  war.f  Observant  men  com- 
pared the  injury  done  to  the  Guerriere  in  thirty  minutes, 
and  part  of  that  time  with  the  ships  foul,  in  a  situation  that 

*  An  officer  of  the  Constitution,  of  experience  and  of  great  respecta- 
bility, who  is  now  dead,  assured  the  writer  that  he  actually  weighed  the 
shot  of  both  ships,  and  found  that  the  Constitution's  24's  were  only  3 
pounds  heavier  than  the  Guerriere's  18's,  and  that  there  was  nearly  the 
same  difference  in  favour  of  the  latter's  32's.  The  writer  has  elsewhere 
given  the  result  of  his  own  investigations,  on  this  subject,  made,  however, 
some  years  after  the  war.  He  never  found  an  English  shot  over-weight, 
though  most  of  the  American  shot  fell  short 

f  Whatever  may  have  been  its  conduct,  and  it  was  excellent  in  the 
chase  and  in  the  engagement,  the  crew  of  the  Constitution  was  actually 
new,  her  men  having  been  shipped  just  before  the  war. 
VOL.  II —15 


174  WAVAL  HISTORY. 

compelled  the  Constitution  to  withhold  her  fire,  with  that 
done  to  the  Chesapeake,  an  unresisting  vessel,  in  fifteen 
minutes;  the  first,  too,  occurring  in  rough,  and  the  last  in 
smooth  water,  with  every  advantage  of  position.  While 
the  mass  of  the  nation  perceived  that  the  notion  of  British 
invincibility  was  absurd,  and,  perhaps,  began  to  expect 
impossibilities,  this  portion  of  the  observers,  with  justice, 
foresaw  that  America  had  only  to  put  forth  her  power  in 
earnest,  to  assert  the  freedom  of  the  seas  in  a  manner  to 
command  respect. 

Capt.  Dacres  lost  no  professional  reputation  by  his  defeat. 
He  had  handled  his  ship  in  a  manner  to  win  the  applause  of 
his  enemies,  fought  her  gallantly,  and  only  submitted  when 
further  resistance  would  have  been  as  culpable  as,  in  fact, 
it  was  impossible.  Less  can  be  said  in  favour  of  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  Guerriere's  batteries,  which  were  not  equal  to 
the  mode  of  fighting  that  had  been  introduced  bv  her  anta- 

C3  O  •> 

gonist,  and  which,  in  fact,  was  the  commencement  of  a  new 
era  in  combats  between  single  ships. 

We  have  dwelt  at  length  on  the  circumstances  connected 
with  this  action,  not  only  because  it  was  the  first  serious 
conflict  of  the  war,  but  because  it  was  characterized  by 
features  which,  though  novel  at  the  time,  became  identified 
with  nearly  all  the  subsequent  engagements  of  the  con- 
test, showing  that  they  were  intimately  connected  with  the 
discipline  and  system  of  the  American  marine. 

Capt.  Hull,  having  performed  the  two  handsome  exploits 
recorded,  now  gave  up  the  command  of  his  frigate,  with  a 
feeling  that  was  highly  creditable  to  him,  in  order  to  allow 
others  an  equal  chance  to  distinguish  themselves,  there  be- 
ing unfortunately  many  more  captains  than  vessels  in  the 
navy,  at  that  trying  moment.  Capt.  Bainbridge  was  named 
to  be  his  successor,  being  transferred  from  the  Constellation 
38,  then  fitting  for  sea  at  Washington,  to  the  Constitution. 

As  Capt.  Bainbridge  was  one  of  the  oldest  officers  of  his 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  175 

rank  in  the  service,  he  was  given  a  command  consisting  of 
his  own  ship,  the  Essex  32,  and  the  Hornet  18.  He  hoisted 
his  broad  pennant  on  board  the  Constitution,  accordingly, 
on  the  15th  of  September,  at  Boston.  Capt.  Stewart,  lately 
returned  from  a  furlough,  was  appointed  to  the  Constella- 
tion 38,  and  Mr.  Charles  Morris,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the 
Constitution  in  the  chase,  and  in  the  battle,  was  shortly  after 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain,  passing  the  step  of  master 
commandant,  as  had  been  the  case  with  Com.  Decatur. 
This  was  the  second  time  this  officer  had  been  promoted 
for  his  conduct  in  battle,  and  he  probably  owed  his  present 
elevation  over  the  heads  of  his  seniors,  to  this  circum- 
stance, coupled  with  the  fact  that  his  wound  in  the  late  ac- 
tion had  so  nearly  been  fatal. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  merits  of  the  officer  who 
was  the  subject  of  this  exercise  of  executive  power,  and 
they  are  known  to  be  of  a  very  high  order,  there  is  little 
question  that  the  precedent  set,  not  only  in  his  case,  but 
in  that  of  Capt.  Decatur,  is  of  a  very  dangerous  charac- 
ter. No  general  rule  can  be  safer  than  to  promote  the  first 
lieutenant  of  a  victorious  ship ;  for  the  efficiency  of  a  man 
of  war  depends  as  much  on  this  officer  as  on  her  comman- 
der, and  while  it  may  be  no  more  than  an  act  of  justice,  it 
is  an  incentive  to  constant  preparation;  but  no  policy  can 
be  weaker  than  that  which  deprives  many  of  their  self- 
respect  and  just  professional  pride,  in  order  to  reward  the 
services  and  sustain  the  hopes  of  one.  The  policy  of  the 
navy  has  been  characterized  by  acts  of  this  vacillating  and 
short-sighted  nature;  and  thus  it  is  that  we  have  so  long 
seen  veterans  lingering  in  the  stations  that  they  have  held 
for  near  forty  years,  through  the  neglect  of  the  proper 
authorities  to  create  a  new  and  superior  rank,  in  contrast 
to  occasional  and  indiscreet  exercises  of  patronage  that  have 
overstepped  the  bounds  of  discretion.  These  irregularities, 
in  which  there  is  excess  of  favour  on  one  side,  with  denials 


176  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

of  justice  on  another,  are  the  fruits  of  the  influence  of  popu- 
lar feeling  over  a  corps,  that,  being  necessarily  subjected, 
in  its  ordinary  duties,  to  the  rigid  exactions  of  martial  law, 
is  entitled,  at  all  times,  to  have  its  interests  protected  by  a 
uniform,  consistent,  rigidly  just,  and  high-toned  code  of  civil 
regulations.  It  is  not  the  least  of  the  merits  of  the  Ameri- 
can marine,  that  it  has  earned  its  high  reputation  in  despite 
of  the  various  disadvantages  of  this  nature,  under  which  it 
has  laboured.* 

*  In  the  end,  the  promotion  of  Capt.  Morris  made  but  little  difference 
in  his  position  in  the  service,  except  as  regards  the  lieutenants,  an  advan- 
tage very  properly  obtained,  most  of  the  masters  and  commanders  re- 
gaining their  relative  ranks  on  promotion.  One,  however,  Capt.  Ludlow, 
a  very  respectable  officer,  was  induced  to  resign. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  177 


CHAPTER  XL 


IT  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  Congress  did  nothing  of  any 
moment  towards  increasing  the  navy,  on  the  ocean,  during 
the  year  1812,  although  war  was  declared  in  June.  This 
neglect  of  this  important  branch  of  the  public  service,  under 
circumstances  that  would  seem  so  imperiously  to  call  for 
the  fostering  care  and  active  exertions  of  the  government, 
must  be  ascribed  to  the  doubts  that  still  existed  as  to  the  pos- 
sibility of  keeping  ships  at  sea,  in  face  of  the  British  navy.  Jt 
had  so  long  been  customary  for  the  world  to  say,  France, 
whenever  she  put  a  ship  into  the  water,  was  merely  build- 
ing for  her  great  enemy,  that  an  opinion  was  prevalent, 
America  would  be  doing  the  same  thing,  if  she  wasted  her 
resources  in  creating  a  marine ;  and  it  literally  became  ne- 
cessary for  the  accomplished  officers  who  composed  the 
germ  of  the  service,  to  demonstrate,  from  fact  to  fact,  their 
ability  to  maintain  the  honour  of  the  country,  before  that 
country  would  frankly  confide  to  them  the  means.  As  we 
proceed  in  the  narrative  of  events,  this  singular  historical 
truth  will  become  more  apparent. 

Com.  Rodgers  sailed  on  a  second  cruise,  after  refitting, 
leaving  the  Hornet  in  port ;  but  Com.  Decatur,  in  the  United 
States  44,  and  the  Argus  16,  Capt.  Sinclair,  parted  compa- 
ny with  him,  at  sea,  on  the  12th  of  October,  after  cruising 
some  time  without  falling  in  with  any  thing  of  importance. 

15* 


i 


178  W AVAL  HISTORY. 

On  the  17th,  he  captured  the  British  packet  Swallow,  with 
a  large  amount  of  specie  on  board,  and  continued  his  cruise 
to  the  eastward.  In  the  mean  while,  the  United  States  and 
Argus  separated,  the  former  standing  more  to  the  southward 
and  eastward,  with  a  view  to  get  into  the  track  of  the 
enemy's  Indiamen.  On  the  25th  of  October,  or  thirteen 
days  after  she  had  left  the  squadron,  the  United  States,  then 
in  lat.  29°  N.,  long.  29°  30'  W.,  made  a  large  sail  to  wind- 
ward. It  was  Sunday,  and  there  was  a  good  breeze,  with 
a  heavy  sea  on.  It  was  soon  ascertained  that  the  stranger 
was  an  enemy,  and  every  exertion  was  made  to  get  along 
side  of  him,  though  the  English  ship,  having  the  advantage 
of  the  wind,  which  she  tenaciously  maintained,  was  enabled, 
for  some  time,  to  prevent  it. 

At  length,  believing  himself  to  be  within  reach  of  his 
guns,  Com.  Decatur  ordered  a  broadside  fired  from  the 
United  States,  but  it  was  found  that  most  of  the  shot  fell 
short.  Keeping  her  luff,  however,  the  ship  was  enabled  to 
get  nearer,  and  after  a  short  delay,  she  opened  again  with 
effect.  A  heavy  and  steady  cannonade  now  commenced 
from  the  long  guns  of  both  vessels,  carronades  being  useless 
for  the  first  half  hour.  It  was  soon  apparent,  that  the 
American  ship  was  cutting  her  antagonist  to  pieces,  while 
she  sustained  but  very  little  injury  herself.  As  a  matter  of 
course  the  English  ship  fell  to  leeward,  while  the  American 
both  closed  and  fore-reached  on  her.  Finding  herself  far 
enough  ahead  and  to  windward,  the  United  States  at  length 
tacked  and  ranged  up  under  the  enemy's  lee.  At  this  mo- 
ment the  mizzen-mast  of  the  latter  had  been  shot  away,  his 
main  and  fore-topmasts  were  gone,  his  main  yard  was 
hanging  in  two  pieces,  and  no  colours  were  flying. 

As  the  United  States  came  up  under  the  lee  of  the  En- 
glish ship,  the  firing  having  ceased  on  both  sides,  she  hailed 
and  demanded  the  name  of  her  antagonist,  and  whether  she 
had  submitted.  To  the  first  interrogatory,  Com.  Decatur 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  179 

was  answered  that  the  ship  was  the  Macedonian  38,  Capt. 
Garden,  and  to  the  second,  that  the  vessel  had  struck.  On 
taking  possession,  the  enemy  was  found  fearfully  cut  to 
pieces,  having  received  no  less  than  100  round  shot  in  her 
hull  alone.  Of  300  men  on  board  her,  36  were  killed,  and 
68  wounded. 

The  Macedonian  was  a  very  fine  ship  of  her  class, 
mounting,  as  usual,  49  guns,  eighteens  on  her  gun-deck, 
and  32  pound  carronades  above.  She  was  smaller,  of 
lighter  armament,  and  had  fewer  men  than  her  opponent, 
of  course,  but  the  disproportion  between  the  force  of  the 
two  vessels,  was  much  less  than  that  between  the  execu- 
tion. In  this  action,  the  advantage  of  position  was  with  the 
British  ship  until  she  was  crippled,  and  the  combat  was 
little  more  than  a  plain  cannonade,  at  a  distance  that  ren- 
dered grape  and  musketry  of  little  or  no  use,  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  time.  The  fire  of  the  United  States  took  effect 
so  heavily  in  the  waist  of  her  antagonist,  that  it  is  said  the 
marines  of  the  latter  were  removed  to  the  batteries,  which 
circumstance  increased  the  efficiency  of  the  ship,  by  enabling 
new  crews  to  be  placed  at  guns  that  had  been  once  cleared 
of  their  men.  On  the  other  hand,  the  marines  of  the  United 
States  remained  drawn  up  in  the  waist  of  that  ship,  most  of 
the  time  quite  useless,  though  they  are  understood  to  have 
shown  the  utmost  steadiness  and  good  conduct  under  the  ex- 
ample of  their  commander,  the  weight  of  the  enemy's  fire 
passing  a  short  distance  above  their  heads. 

The  United  States  suffered  surprisingly  little,  considering 
the  length  of  the  cannonade,  and  her  equal  exposure.  She 
lost  one  of  her  top-gallant-masts,  received  some  wounds  in 
the  spars,  had  a  good  deal  of.  rigging  cut,  and  was  other- 
wise injured  aloft,  but  was  hulled  but  a  few  times.  Of  her 
officers  and  people  5  were  killed  and  7  wounded.  Of  the 
latter,  two  died,  one  of  whom  was  Mr.  John  Musser  Funk, 


180  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  junior  lieutenant  of  the  ship.  No  other  officer  was 
hurt. 

On  taking  possession  of  his  prize,  Com.  Decatur  found 
her  in  a  state  that  admitted  of  getting  her  into  port.  Her 
two  principal  masts  were  secured,  and  a  jury  mizzen-mast 
was  rigged  by  Mr.  Allen,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  United 
States,  who  was  put  in  charge  of  her,  with  great  ingenuity, 
so  as  to  convert  the  vessel  into  a  bark. 

When  the  necessary  repairs  were  complete,  the  two  ships 
made  the  best  of  their  way  to  America;  Com.  Decatur 
discontinuing  his  cruise,  in  order  to  convoy  his  prize  into 
port.  The  United  States  arrived  off  New  London  on  the 
4th  of  December,  and  about  the  same  time  the  Macedonian 
got  into  Newport.  Shortly  after,  both  ships  reached  New 
York  by  the  Hell  Gate  passage. 

The  order  and  style  with  which  the  Macedonian  was 
taken,  added  materially  to  the  high  reputation  that  Com. 
Decatur  already  enjoyed.  His  services  were  acknow- 
ledged in  the  usual  manner,  and  he  was  soon  after  directed 
to  cruise  in  the  United  States,  with  the  Macedonian,  Capt. 
Jones,  in  company.  Mr.  Allen,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the 
United  States  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  a  master-com- 
mandant, and  he  received  due  credit  for  the  steady  discip- 
line that  the  ship's  company  had  displayed. 

The  Argus,  under  Capt.  Sinclair,  after  separating  from 
the  United  States  had  cruised  alone,  making  several  cap- 
tures of  merchantmen,  though  she  met  no  vessel-of-war,  of 
a  force  proper  for  her  to  engage.  During  this  cruise,  the 
brig  was  chased  for  three  days  and  nights,  the  latter  being 
moonlight,  by  a  squadron  of  the  enemy,  two  of  which  were 
ships  of  the  line.  On  this  occasion,  the  Argus  proved  her 
fine  qualities,  and  the  coolness  of  her  officers  and  people  did 
them  infinite  credit.  All  the  guns  were  preserved,  though 
the  brig  was  so  hard  pressed  as  to  be  obliged  to  start  her 
water,  to  cut  away  anchors,  and  to  throw  overboard  some 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  181 

of  her  boats.  Notwithstanding  the  perseverance  of  her  pur- 
suers, the  Argus  actually  took  and  manned  a  prize  during 
the  chase,  though  two  of  the  enemy  got  near  enough  to 
open  their  fire  as  the  vessels  separated.  The  brig  escaped, 
having  made  five  prizes  before  she  got  in. 

While  these  events  were  in  the  course  of  accomplish- 
ment, among  the  other  vessels,  the  Wasp  18,  Capt.  Jones, 
left  the  Delaware  on  a  cruise.  She  was  one  of  the  sloops 
built  at  the  close  of  the  Tripolitan  war,  and,  like  her  sister 
ship  the  Hornet,  a  beautiful  and  fast  cruiser.  The  latter, 
however,  which  originally  was  a  brig,  had  been  rebuilt,  or 
extensively  repaired  at  Washington,  on  which  occasion, 
she  had  been  pierced  for  twenty  guns,  and  rigged  into  a 
ship.  The  Wasp  still  retained  her  old  armament  and  con- 
struction, having  been  a  ship  from  the  first,  mounting  10 
thirty-two  pound  carronades  and  2  long  twelves.  Her  com- 
plement of  men  varied  from  13.0  to  160,  according  to  cir- 
cumstances. She  had  been  to  Europe  with  despatches  be- 
fore the  declaration  of  war,  and  did  not  return  home  until 
some  weeks  alter  hostilities  had  commenced. 

The  Wasp,  after  refitting,  sailed  on  the  13th  of  October, 
and  ran  off  east,  southerly,  to  clear  the  coast,  and  to  get 
into  the  track  of  vessels  steering  north.  Three  days  out  it 
came  on  to  blow  very  heavily,  when  the  ship  lost  her  jib- 
boom,  and  two  men  that  were  on  it  at  the  moment.  The 
next  day  the  weather  moderated,  and  about  11  o'clock  in 
the  night  of  the  17th,  being  then  in  latitude  37°  N.,  and  lon- 
gitude 65°  W.,  several  sail  were  made.  Two  of  these  ves- 
sels appeared  to  be  large,  and  Capt.  Jones  did  not  deem  it 
prudent  to  close,  until  he  had  a  better  opportunity  of  ob- 
serving them,  but  hauling  off  to  a  convenient  distance,  he 
steered  in  the  same  direction  with  the  unknown  vessels, 
with  the  intention  of  ascertaining  their,  characters  in  the 
morning.  When  the  day  dawned,  the  strangers  were  seen 
ahead,  and  to  leeward.  Making  sail  to  close,  they  were 


182  XAVAL  HISTORY. 

soon  ascertained  to  be  a  small  convoy  of  six  English  ships, 
under  the  charge  of  a  heavy  brig  of  war.  Four  of  the  mer- 
chantmen were  armed,  mounting,  as  well  as  could  be  seen 
at  that  distance,  from  12  to  18  guns.  The  commander  of 
the  brig,  however,  manifested  no  wish  to  avail  himself  of  the 
assistance  of  any  of  his  convoy,  but  shortening  sail,  the 
latter  passed  ahead,  while  he  prepared  to  give  battle. 

The  Wasp  now  sent  down  top-gallant-yards,  close  reefed 
her  topsails,  and  was  otherwise  brought  under  short  fighting 
canvass,  there  being  a  good  deal  of  sea  on.  The  stranger 
was  under  little  sail  also,  and  his  main  yard  was  on  deck, 
where  it  had  been  lowered  to  undergo  repairs.  As  it  was 
the  evident  intention  of  the  Englishman  to  cover  his  con- 
voy, very  little  manoeuvring  was  necessary  to  bring  the 
vessels  along  side  of  each  other.  At  32  minutes  past  11  A. 
M.,  the  Wasp  ranged  close  up  on  the  starboard  side  of  the 
enemy,  receiving  her  broadside,  at  the  distance  of  about 
sixty  yards,  and  delivering  her  own.  The  fire  of  the  En- 
glishman immediately  became  very  rapid,  it  having  been 
thought  at  ihe  time,  thuL  lie  discharged  three  guns  to 
the  Wasp's  two,  and  as  the  main-topmast  of  the  latter  ship 
was  shot  away  within  five  minutes  after  the  action  com- 
menced, appearances,  at  first,  were  greatly  in  the  enemy's 
favour.  In  eight  minutes,  the  gaff  and  mizzen  top-gallant- 
mast  also  fell.  But,  if  the  fire  of  the  Wasp  was  the  most 
deliberate,  it  was  much  the  most  deadly. 

In  consequence  of  the  fall  of  the  rnain-topmast  of  the 
American  ship,  which,  with  the  main-topsail-yard,  lodged 
on  the  fore  and  fore-topsail  braces,  it  became  next  to  im- 
possible to  haul  any  of  the  yards,  had  circumstances  re- 
quired it,  but  the  battle  was  continued  with  great  spirit 
on  both  sides,  until  the  ships  had  gradually  closed  so  near, 
that  the  bends  of  the  Wasp  rubbed  against  her  antagonist's 
bows.  Here  the  ships  came  foul,  the  bowsprit  of  the  enemy 


NAVAL  HISTORr.  183 

passing  in  over  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Wasp,  forcing  her 
bows  up  into  the  wind,  and  enabling  the  latter  to  throw  in 
a  close  raking  fire. 

When  Capt.  Jones  perceived  the  effect  of  the  enemy's  fire 
on  his  spars  and  rigging,  it  was  his  intention  to  board,  and 
he  had  closed  with  this  view;  but  finding  his  ship  in  so  fa- 
vourable a  position  to  rake  the  enemy,  he  countermanded 
an  order  to  that  effect,  and  directed  a  fresh  broadside  to  be 
delivered.  The  vessels  were  now  so  near,  that  in  loading 
some  of  the  Wasp's  guns,  the  rammers  hit  against  the  bows 
of  her  antagonist,  and  the  people  of  the  English  ship  could 
no  longer  be  kept  at  their  quarters  forward.  The  discharge 
of  one  or  two  of  the  carronades  swept  the  enemy's  decks, 
when  the  impetuosity  of  the  Wasp's  crew  could  no  longer 
be  restrained,  and  they  began  to  leap  into  the  rigging,  and 
from  thence  on  the  bowsprit  of  the  brig.  As  soon  as  Mr. 
Biddle,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Wasp,  found  that  the  people 
were  not  to  be  restrained,  he  sprang  into  the  rigging,  fol- 
lowed by  a  party  of  officers  and  men,  and  the  attempt  to 
board  was  seriously  made.  On  the  forecastle  of  the  brig, 
Mr.  Biddle  passed  all  his  own  people,  but  there  was  no  ene- 
my to  oppose  him.  Two  or  three  officers  were  standing 
aft,  most  of  them  bleeding.  The  decks  were  strewed  with 
killed  and  wounded,  but  not  a  common  hand  was  at  his  sta- 
tion, all  of  those  that  were  able  having  gone  below,  with  the 
exception  of  the  man  at  the  wheel,  ^he  latter  had  maintain- 
ed his  post,  with  the  spirit  of  a  true  seaman,  to  the  very  last. 

The  English  officers  threw  down  their  swords,  in  token 
of  submission,  as  Mr.  Biddle  passed  aft;  and  it  ought  to  be 
added,  to  the  credit  of  the  conquerors,  notwithstanding  the 
excitement  of  such  scenes  are  too  apt  to  lead  even  the  dis- 
ciplined into  excesses,  not  an  enemy  was  injured  by  the 
boarders.  Mr.  Biddle  sprang  into  the  main  rigging,  and 
lowered  the  English  flag  with  his  own  hands,  when  the 
combat  ceased,  after  a  duration  of  43  minutes. 


184  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

The  prize  turned  out  to  be  the  British  sloop  of  war  Fro- 
lic 18,  CapU  Whinyates,  homeward  bound,  with  the  vessels 
in  the  Honduras  trade  under  convoy.  The  Frolic,  with  the 
exception  of  being  a  brig,  was  a  vessel  of  the  size  and  con- 
struction of  the  Wasp.  She  mounted  on  her  main  deck,  16 
thirty-two  pound  carronades,  four  long  guns,  differently 
stated  to  have  been  sixes,  nines,  and  twelves,  and  with 
two  twelve-pound  carronades  on  a  top-gallant-forecastle. 
This  armament  would  make  a  force  greater  than  that  of  the 
Wasp  by  four  guns,  a  disparity  that  is  not  immaterial  in  ves- 
sels so  small.  The  two  crews  were  pretty  equal  in  num- 
bers, though  it  is  probable  that  the  Wasp  may  have  had  a 
few  men  the  most,  a  difference  that  was  of  little  moment 
under  the  circumstances,  more  particularly  as  the  Frolic 
was  a  brig,  and  the  battle  was  fought,  by  both  vessels,  under 
very  short  sail. 

The  Wasp  was  cut  up  aloft  to  an  unusual  degree,  there 
having  been  no  question  that  her  antagonist's  fire  was 
heavy  and  spirited.  The  braces  and  standing-rigging  were 
nearly  all  shot  away,  and  some  of  the  spars  that  stood 
were  injured.  She  had  five  men  killed,  and  five  wound- 
ed. The  hull  sustained  no  great  damage. 

The  Frolic  was  also  much  injured  in  her  spars  and  rig- 
ging, more  particularly  the  former;  and  the  two  vessels  were 
hardly  separated,  before  both  her  masts  fell.  She  had  been 
hulled  at  almost  every  discharge,  and  was  virtually  a  wreck 
when  taken  possession  of  by  the  Americans.  Her  loss  in 
men  was  never  accurately  known,  but  her  captain,  first 
lieutenant,  and  master,  were  wounded;  the  two  latter,  mor- 
tally. Mr.  Biddle,  who  remained  in  charge  of  the  prize, 
after  so  gallantly  boarding  her,  stated,  that  as  far  as  he 
could  ascertain,  she  had  from  70  to  80  killed  and  wounded. 
Subsequent  information,  however,  has  given  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  number  was  even  greater.  Capt.  Whinyates, 
in  his  official  report,  states  that  not  20  of  his  crew  escaped 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  185 

unhurt,  which  would  probably  raise  the  casualties  to  a  num- 
ber between  90  and  100. 

The  Frolic  had  scarcely  submitted,  when  a  large  sail 
was  seen  standing  towards  the  two  vessels,  evidently  a  ship 
of  force.  Instructions  were  given  to  Mr.  Biddle  to  make 
the  best  of  his  way  to  Charleston  with  the  prize,  and  the 
Wasp  began  to  make  sail,  with  an  intention  to  continue  her 
cruise;  but  on  opening  her  canvass,  and  turning  the  reefs 
out  of  her  top-sails,  they  were  found  to  be  nearly  in  ribands. 
The  stranger,  which  turned  out  to  be  the  enemy's  ship 
Poictiers  74,  hove  a  shot  over  the  Frolic,  in  passing,  and 
soon  ranging  up  near  the  Wasp,  both  vessels  were  captured. 
The  Poictiers  proceeded  with  her  two  prizes  to  Bermuda, 
and  the  Americans  being  exchanged,  soon  after  returned 
home. 

As  this  was  the  first  combat  of  the  war  between  vessels 
of  a  force  so  nearly  equal,  as  to  render  cavilling  difficult, 
the  result  occasioned  much  exultation  in  America,  and 
greatly  increased  the  confidence  of  the  public,  in  supposing 
an  American  ship  had  quite  as  much  claims  to  conduct, 
courage  and  skill,  as  their  enemies.  Persons  of  reflection 
attached  but  little  importance,  it  is  true,  to  the  mere  fact 
that  a  few  cruisers  of  the  enemy  had  been  taken  in  single 
combat,  but  the  idea  of  British  invincibility  on  the  ocean 
was  destroyed,  and  the  vast  moral  results  were  distinctly 
foreseen.  Men  part  with  their  prejudices  slowly  and  with 
reluctance;  and  the  warfare  on  the  ocean  produced  one  on 
the  land,  in  which  the  contending  parties,  by  pretending  to 
analyze  the  three  combats  that  had  now  occurred,  displayed 
on  both  sides,  more  ignorance  than  logic,  and  much  intem- 
perance of  language  and  prevarication. 

They  who  understood  the  power  of  ships,  and  examined 
details,  with  a  real  desire  to  learn  the  truth,  discovered 
enough  to  see  that  a  new  era  had  occurred  in  naval  war- 
fare. While  these  critics  perceived  and  admitted  the  supe- 

VOL.  II.— 16 


186  NAVAL  BISTORT. 

riority  of  the  American  frigates,  in  the  two  actions  that  had 
occurred,  they  could  not  but  see  that  it  was  disproportioned 
to  the  execution  they  had  done;  and  in  the  combat  between 
the  two  little  vessels  that  has  just  been  recorded,  the  important 
fact  was  not  overlooked,  that  the  enemy's  brig  had  suffered 
as  severe  a  loss  in  men,  as  it  was  usual  for  the  heaviest  ves- 
sels to  sustain  in  general  actions.  Hitherto,  English  ships 
had  been  compelled  to  seek  close  contests  with  their  foes, 
but  now  they  had  only  to  back  their  top-sails,  to  be  certain 
of  being  engaged  at  the  muzzles  of  their  guns.  There  was 
no  falling  off  in  British  spirit;  no  vessel  was  unworthily 
given  up;  for  the  case  of  the  Alert  may  be  taken  as  a  sur- 
prise ;  and  it  was  necessary  to  search  for  the  cause  of  this 
sudden  and  great  change,  in  the  character  of  the  new  ad- 
versary. The  most  cavilling  detractors  of  the  rising  repu- 
tation of  the  American  marine,  were  reluctantly  obliged 
to  admit  that  naval  combats  were  no  longer  what  they  had 
been ;  and  the  discreet  among  the  enemy,  saw  the  necessity 
of  greater  caution,  more  laboured  preparations,  and  of  re- 
newed efforts. 

As  respects  the  particular  combat  between  the  Wasp  and 
Frolic,  in  the  published  account  of  the  English  captain,  much 
stress  was  laid  on  the  crippled  condition  of  his  ship,  when 
she  went  into  action.  It  is  admitted  that  the  Frolic  had 
her  main-yard  on  deck  when  she  engaged,  and,  as  little 
canvass  was  required,  her  after-sail  was  reduced  to  her  fore- 
and-aft  main-sail.  There  are  circumstances  in  which  the 
loss  of  a  brig's  main-topsail  would  be  of  the  last  import- 
ance; and  there  are  circumstances,  again,  in  which  it  would 
be  of  but  little  moment.  On  this  occasion,  it  does  not  ap- 
pear to  have  materially  influenced  the  result;  and  the  very 
fact  that  the  yard  was  down,  may  have  prevented  the  mast 
from  falling  during  the  engagement,  instead  of  falling  after  it. 
On  details  of  this  nature,  it  is  difficult  to  reason  accurately, 
so  much  depending  on  minute  circumstances,  that  must 


NAVAL  HISTORV.  187 

escnpe  the  general  observer.  In  effect,  the  loss  of  the  main- 
yard  converted  the  Frolic  into  a  half-rigged  brig,  a  species 
of  vessel  that  is  in  much  request  among  seamen,  and  which 
would  require  fewer  men  to  manage,  than  a  full  rigged 
brig.* 

.Capt.  Jones  was  promoted  shortly  after  this  success,  and 
he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Macedonian  38, 
which  ship  had  been  purchased  and  taken  into  the  service. 
The  name  of  Mr.  Biddle,  who  was  an  old  lieutenant,  and 
whose  spirited  conduct  in  the  action  was  much  appreciat- 
ed, was  also  included  in  the  list  of  masters  and  commanders 
that  was  sent  into  the  senate  about  the  same  time.f 

*  The  English  commander  in  his  account  of  the  action,  however,  states 
that  he  had  suffered  in  a  severe  gale  on  the  night  preceding  the  engage- 
ment, losing  his  topsails,  carrying  away  his  main-yard,  and  springing  his 
main-topmast.  On  the  night  preceding  the  action,  the  Wasp  is  known  to 
have  been  watching  the  convoy,  quite  near  by,  and  nothing  is  said  of  any 
gale,  though  one  had  occurred  the  day  previous.  These  are  some  of  the 
discrepancies  with  which  the  historian  has  to  contend,  but  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  many  of  them  ought  to  be  ascribed  to  the  public  offices, 
rather  than  to  the  mistakes  of  eye-witnesses. 

f  An  erroneous  opinion  has  been  prevalent,  that  Mr.  Biddle  was  merely 
a  volunteer  in  the  Wasp,  in  her  action  with  the  Frolic.  The  fact  would 
not  affect  the  estimate  of  his  conduct,  but  he  was  regularly  ordered  to 
the  sloop  as  her  first  lieutenant,  and  acted  in  that  capacity,  and  in  that 
capacity  only,  during  the  engagement. 


188  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


WHEN  Com.  Bainbridge  took  command  of  the  three  ves- 
sels that  have  been  already  mentioned,  the  Constitution  44, 
his  flag  ship,  and  Hornet  18,  Capt.  Lawrence,  were  lying 
in  the  port  of  Boston ;  and  the  Essex  32,  Capt.  Porter,  had 
just  gone  into  the  Delaware.  Orders  were  sent  to  the  lat- 
ter officer,  to  rendezvous  first  at  Port  Praya,  in  the  island 
of  St.  Jago;  and  secondly,  at  Fernando  Noronha.  Other 
places  of  resort  were  pointed  out;  and  he  was  also  in- 
structed to  cruise  in  the  track  of  the  enemy's  Indiamen, 
until  a  time  mentioned,  when,  if  he  failed  to  fall  in  with  his 
senior  officer,  he  was  at  liberty  to  follow  his  own  discre- 
tion. As  the  Essex  never  did  join  the  other  ships,  we  shall 
defer  the  mention  of  her  active  and  highly  interesting 
cruise,  to  another  chapter. 

The  Constitution  and  Hornet  sailed  from  Boston  on  the 
26th  of  October.  Touching  at  the  different  rendezvous, 
where  they  appeared  in  the  characters  of  British  vessels  of 
war,  letters  were  left  for  Capt.  Porter,  under  the  assumed 
name  of  Sir  James  Yeo,  of  the  Southampton  32,*  according 
to  arrangement,  and  the  ships  proceeded. 

*  When  the  Essex  arrived,  Capt.  Porter  obtained  one  of  these  letters, 
which,  in  addition  to  some  common-place  matter,  contained  orders  in 
sympathetic  ink,  for  his  future  movements.  Cupt.  Porter  relates  the  oc- 
currence, and  gives  a  copy  of  the  letter,  in  his  journal  of  the  Essex's 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  189 

Com.  Bainbridge  arrived  off  St.  Salvador,  on  the  13th  of 
December,  and  the  Hornet  was  sent  in  to  communicate 
with  the  consul.  Capt.  Lawrence  found  the  British  sloop 
of  war,  Bonne  Citoyenne  18,  Capt.  Green,  in  port,  but 
about  to  sail  for  England,  with  a  very  large  amount  of 
specie  on  board.  The  presence  of  this  vessel,  suggested  a 
hope  of  being  able  to  get  her  out.  After  conversing  with 
the  consul,  that  gentleman  was  empowered  to  inform  the 
commander  of  the  English  ship,  that  Capt.  Lawrence  was 
desirous  of  meeting  him  at  sea,  and  to  give  the  necessary 
pledges  that  the  Constitution  would  be  out  of  the  way.  A 
correspondence  took  place  between  the  English  and  Ameri- 
can consuls  on  the  subject,  and  in  the  end,  Capt.  Green  de- 
clined acceding  to  the  proposal.  • 

There  may  be  occasions  in  which  an  officer  is  justified  in 
giving  an  invitation  of  this  kind  to  an  enemy's  ship,  since  a 
challenge  may  have  all  the  practical  effects  of  a  ruse  de 
guerre,  by  getting  a  vessel  under  his  guns,  in  this  manner, 
that  he  might  not  be  able  to  get  there,  in  any  other  way. 
Had  the  Hornet  taken  the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  by  the  aid  of 
this  provocation,  she  would  have  conferred  a  great  benefit 
on  her  country,  and  inflicted  a  great  injury  on  the  enemy, 
both  of  which  were  the  legitimate  objects  of  her  cruise ; 
but  challenges  of  this  sort,  are  generally  to  be  avoided, 
since  they  may  be  the  means  of  compelling  an  officer  to 
engage  at  a  moment  when  it  would  be  his  duty  to  avoid  an 
action.  The  commander  of  a  vessel  of  war  is  bound,  at  all 
times,  to  retain  as  perfect  a  control  of  his  movements  as 
possible,  that  he  may  be  in  a  situation  to  consult  the  public 

cruise,  the  nature  of  the  whole  transaction  appearing-  on  its  face.  The 
letter  speaks  for  itself,  yet  Capt.  Porter,  in  a  leading  English  publication, 
was  charged  with  being  guilty  of  an  improper  act,  for  opening  a  letter 
directed  to  another  person!  When  national  hostility  blinds  a  writer  to 
such  a  degree  as  this,  he  puts  himself  without  the  pale  of  common  sense, 
if  not  without  that  of  common  honesty. 

16* 


190  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

good,  as  events  arise;  and  the  officer  who  is  pledged  to 
meet  his  enemy  under  prescribed  rules,  is  no  longer  the 
master  of  his  own  movements,  should  general  duty  sud- 
denly interfere  with  his  particular  convention.  There  can 
be  no  question,  that,  under  his  peculiar  circumstances, 
Capt.  Green  decided  properly,  in  refusing  to  meet  the  Hor- 
net, though  the  reason  that  was  given  was  objectionable, 
inasmuch  as  he  appeared  to  distrust  an  interference  on  the 
part  of  the  American  frigate. 

The  Constitution  left  the  Hornet  to  blockade  the  Bonne 
Citoyenne  alone,  on  the  26th,  and  stood  to  the  southward, 
keeping  the  land  aboard.  About  9  A.  M.,  of  the  29th, 
when  in  lat.  13°  6'  S.,  and  long.  31°  W.,  or  at  a  distance  of 
ten  leagues  from  the  coast,  two  strange  sail  were  made,  in- 
shore and  to  windward.  One  of  these  vessels  continued  to 
stand  in,  while  the  other,  which  was  much  the  largest,  al- 
tered her  course  in  the  direction  of  the  American  frigate, 
which  had  tacked  to  close  with  her.  The  day  was  plea- 
sant, there  was  but  little  sea,  and  the  wind  was  light  at 
E.  N.  E. 

At  11  A.  M.,  being  satisfied  that  the  strange  sail  was  an 
enemy's  frigate,  the  Constitution  tacked  again  to  the  south- 
ward and  eastward,  to  draw  her  off  the  land,  which  was 
plainly  in  sight.  At  the  same  time,  she  set  her  royals,  and 
boarded  main-tack,  in  order  to  effect  this  object. 

At  12  M.,  the  Constitution  showed  her  colours,  and  shortly 
after  the  stranger  set  the  English  ensign.  Signals  were  made 
by  both  ships,  but  proved  to  be  mutually  unintelligible.  At 
20  minutes  past  1,  P.  M.,  believing  himself  far  enough  from 
the  land,  Com.  Bainbridge  took  in  his  main-sail  and  royals, 
and  tacked  towards  the  enemy.  Soon  after,  both  ships  had 
their  heads  to  the  southward  and  eastward,  the  Englishman 
being  to  windward  more  than  a  mile  distant,  and  well  on 
the  Constitution's  quarter. 

The  enemy  had  now  hauled  down  his  ensign,  though  he 


IT  AVAL  HISTORY.  191 

kept  a  jack  flying,  and  Com.  Bainbridge  ordered  a  shot 
fired  ahead  of  him,  to  induce  him  to  show  his  colours  anew. 
This  order  brought  on  a  general  fire,  and  the  battle  com- 
menced at  2,  P.  M.,  on  both  sides,  with  a  furious  cannon- 
ade. As  the  enemy  sailed  the  best,  in  the  light  wind  that 
prevailed,  he  soon  forged  ahead,  and  kept  away  with  a 
view  to  cross  the  Constitution's  bow,  but  was  foiled  by  the 
latter  ship's  waring,  which  brought  the  heads  of  the  two 
combatants  once  more  to  the  westward.  In  performing 
these  evolutions,  as  the  enemy  steered  free,  and  the  Consti- 
tution luffed,  the  vessels  got  within  pistol  shot,  when  the 
first  repeated  the  same  attempt,  the  ships  waring  together, 
bringing  their  heads  once  more  to  the  eastward.  The  Eng- 
lish ship  forereaching  again,  now  endeavoured  to  tack  to  pre- 
serve the  weather  gage,  but  failing,  she  was  obliged  to 
ware,  a  manoeuvre  that  the  Constitution  had  executed  be- 
fore her,  to  avoid  being  raked,  for  the  wheel  of  the  latter 
ship  had  been  shot  away,  and  it  was  difficult  to  watch  the 
vessel  with  the  helm,  as  closely  as  was  desirable.  The 
Constitution,  notwithstanding,  was  the  first  in  coming  to  the 
wind  on  the  other  tack,  and  she  got  an  efficient  raking  fire 
at  her  opponent. 

Both  vessels  now  ran  off  free,  with  the  wind  on  the  quar- 
ter, the  English  ship  still  to  windward,  when  the  latter  be- 
ing greatly  injured,  made  an  attempt  to  close,  at  55  minutes 
past  2,  by  running  down  on  the  Constitution's  quarter. 
Her  jib-boom  ran  into  the  Constitution's  mizzen-rigging,  in 
which  situation  she  suffered  severely,  without  being  able  to 
effect  her  purpose.  The  head  of  her  bowsprit  was  soon 
shot  away,  and  in  a  few  minutes  after,  her  foremast  came 
by  the  board.  The  Constitution  shot  ahead,  keeping  away 
to  avoid  being  raked ;  and  in  separating,  the  stump  of  the 
enemy's  bowsprit  past  over  the  American  frigate's  taff- 
rail. 

The  two  ships  now  brought  the  wind  abeam  again,  with 


392  NAVAL 

their  heads  to  the  eastward,  and  the  Constitution  having 
fore-reached  in  consequence  of  carrying  the  most  sail,  wore, 
passed  her  antagonist,  luffed  up  under  his  quarter,  wore 
again,  and  the  Englishman  having  kept  away,  the  vessels 
carne.  along  side  of  each  other,  broadside  and  broadside, 
and  engaged  for  a  short  time,  yard-arm-and-yard-arm.  In 
a  few  minutes  the  enemy  lost  his  mizzen-mast,  leaving  no- 
thing standing  but  his  main-mast,  with  the  yard  shot  away 
near  the  slings.  As  his  fire  had  ceased,  the  Constitution 
hauled  aboard  tier  tacks,  and  luffed  athwart  her  antago- 
nist's bow ;  passing  out  of  the  combat  to  windward,  at  five 
minutes  past  4,  with  her  topsails,  courses,  spanker,  and  jib 
set.  In  executing  this  manoeuvre,  Com.  Bainbridge  was 
under  the  impression  that  the  enemy  had  struck,  the  ensign 
which  had  been  hoisted  in  his  main-rigging  being  down, 
his  ship  a  wreck,  and  his  fire  silenced. 

The  Constitution  having  got  a  favourable  weatherly  po- 
sition, passed  an  hour  in  repairing  damages,  and  in  securing 
her  masts;  it  being  all-important  to  an  American  frigate  so 
far  from  home,  without  colonies  or  military  stations  to  re- 
pair to,  and  an  ocean  to  traverse  that  was  covered  with 
enemies,  to  look  vigilantly  to  these  great  auxiliaries.  In 
about  an  hour,  observing  an  ensign  still  flying  on  board  his 
enemy,  Com.  Bainbridge  wore  round,  and  standing  direct- 
ly across  his  fore-foot,  the  English  vessel  anticipated  his  fire 
by  striking. 

The  Constitution  immediately  wore,  with  her  head  on 
the  same  tack  as  the  captured  vessel,  hoisted  out  a  boat, 
and  sent  Mr.  Parker,  her  first  lieutenant,  to  take  possession. 
The  prize  proved  to  be  the  British  frigate  Java  38,  Capt. 
Lambert,  bound  to  the  East  Indies,  having  on  board  as 
passengers,  Lieut  Gen.  Hislop  and  staff,  together  with  se- 
veral supernumerary  sea  officers,  and  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  men,  intended  for  other  ships. 

This  combat  lasted  near  two  hours,  from  the  commence- 


NAVAL  BISTORT.  103 

ment  to  the  end  of  the  firing,  and  it  was  warmly  contested 
on  both  sides,  but  with  very  different  results.  Although 
there  was  more  manosuvring  than  common,  the  Java  had 
been  literally  picked  to  pieces  by  shot,  spar  following  spar, 
until  she  had  not  one  left.  Her  fore-mast  was  first  cut  away 
near  the  cat-harpings,  and  afterwards,  by  a  double-headed 
shot,  about  five-and-twenty  feet  from  the  deck.  The  main- 
top-mast went  early,  and  the  main-mast  fell  after  the  Con- 
stitution hauled  off.  The  mizzen-mast  was  shot  out  of  the 
ship,  a  few  feet  from  the  deck,  and  the  bowsprit  near  the 
cap.  Her  hull  was  also  greatly  injured ;  and  her  loss  in 
men,  according  to  the  British  published  accounts,  was  22 
killed  and  102  wounded ;  though  there  is  good  reason  for 
supposing  it  was  considerably  greater.  Com.  Bainbridge 
stated  it  at  60  killed  and  101  wounded.  There  may  have 
been  some  discrepancy  in  these  statements,  in  consequence 
of  the  great  number  of  supernumeraries  on  board  the  Java, 
which  ship  is  said  to  have  had  more  than  400  men  in  her 
when  taken,  or  near  100  more  than  her  regular  comple- 
ment.* Capt.  Lambert,  of  the  Java,  was  mortally  wounded; 
and  one  of  her  lieutenants,  the  master,  and  many  of  her  in- 
ferior officers,  were  slain,  or  seriously  hurt. 

The  Constitution  did  not  lose  a  spar !  She  went  into  ac- 
tion with  her  royal  yards  across,  and  came  out  of  it  with 
all  three  of  them  in  their  places.  An  eighteen-pound  shot 
passed  through  her  mizzen-mast ;  the  fore-mast  was  slightly 
wounded,  and  the  main-mast  was  untouched.  The  main- 
top-mast was  also  slightly  wounded  ?  a  few  other  spars 

*  The  British  accounts  state  the  crew  of  the  Java  at  377  men,  including- 
supernumeraries.  Com.  Bainbridge  reports  that  he  furloughed  361  offi- 
cers, seamen,  marines,  and  boys,  exclusive  of  8  passengers  and  9  Portu- 
guese seamen,  making  378  souls.  If  to  these  be  added  the  22  allowed  to  be 
killed  by  the  enemy,  a  total  of  just  400  is  obtained.  But  it  is  said  that  a 
muster-list,  made  five  days  after  the  Java  sailed,  contained  just  446 


194  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

were  hit,  without  being  carried  away ;  the  running  rigging 
was  a  good  deal  cut;  several  shrouds  were  parted,  and  the 
ship  received  a  few  round  shot  in  her  hull.  Of  her  crew,  9 
were  killed,  and  25  were  wounded.  Among  the  latter  were 
Com.  Bainbridge,  and  the  junior  lieutenant,  Mr.  Alwyn. 
The  last  died  of  his  injuries,  some  time  after  the  action. 
Com.  Bainbridge  was  slightly  hurt  in  the  hip,  early  in  the 
engagement,  by  a  musket-ball ;  and  the  shot  that  carried 
away  the  wheel,  drove  a  small  copper  bolt  into  his  thigh, 
inflicting  a  dangerous  wound,  though  he  kept  the  deck  until 
midnight.* 

Although  the  injuries  to  the  hull  of  the  Java  were  not  of 
a  nature  to  render  her  being  carried  into  port  difficult,  the 
smoothness  of  the  sea  having  prevented  her  from  receiving 
many  shot  below  the  water-line,  there  existed  many  objec- 
tions to  attempting  it.  In  the  first  place,  it  was  known  that 
the  Brazilian  government  was  favourable  to  that  of  Great 
Britain,  and  there  had  been  strong  proof  of  it  during  the 
recent  visit  of  Com.  Bainbridge  to  St.  Salvador.  That  of- 
ficer, therefore,  felt  a  hesitation  about  trusting  his  prize  in 
a  Brazilian  port.  The  difficulty  of  obtaining  masts  of  the 
4» 

*  Some  touching  anecdotes  are  related  of  the  incidents  of  this  combat. 
Two  Marblehead  seamen,  brothers,  of  the  name  of  Cheever,  were  on  board 
the  Constitution,  one  was  killed,  and  the  other  mortally  wounded.  It  is 
said  that  there  were  twins,  midshipmen,  in  the  Java,  and  that  both  were 
killed.  An  anecdote  of  a  different  sort  also  took  place.  An  American 
was  a  prisoner  in  the  Java,  and  he  was  sent  on  the  berth  deck  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action.  This  gentleman  was  naturally  anxious  to  ascer- 
tain how  the^battle  was  going,  but  had  no  other  means  than  by  inquiring 
of  a  Chinese,  or  a  Lascar,  who  was  stationed  near  one  of  the  hatchways, 
where  he  could  command  a  view  of  the  gun-deck.  To  all  his  inquiries, 
however,  he  got  no  other  answer  than  "  Oh,  a  glorious  victory!"  Sur- 
prised at  hearing  this  reply  so  often,  when  he  saw  scores  of  wounded 
brought  below,  and  heard  shot  constantly  striking  the  ship,  the  American 
at  length  demanded,  "Yes,  but  which  side  will  gain  the  victory?"  The 
mercenary  now  regarded  him  with  cool  indifference,  and  answered, "  Why, 
one,  or  t'other." 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  195 

necessary  size,  the  distance  from  home,  and  the  risks  of  re- 
capture, on  nearing  the  coast,  united  to  render  it  expedient 
to  destroy  her.  After  lying  by  her  two  or  three  days,  there- 
fore, with  a  view  to  remove  the  wounded  with  proper  care, 
the  Java  was  blown  up,  and  the  Constitution  made  the  best 
of  her  way  to  St.  Salvador,  where  she  immediately  landed 
her  prisoners  on  parole. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  the  transactions  connected  with 
the  interests  and  feelings  of  the  officers  and  men  he  had 
captured,  Com.  Bainbridge  manifested  a  liberality  and  deli- 
cacy, that  tended  to  relieve  the  miseries  that  war  necessa- 
rily inflicts,  and  which  appear  to  have  left  a  deep  impres- 
sion on  the  enemy. 

The  same  general  peculiarities  attended  this  combat,  as 
had  distinguished  the  two  other  cases  of  frigate  actions.  In 
all  three,  the  American  vessels  were  superior  to  their  antago- 
nists ;  but  in  all  three,  had  the  difference  in  execution  been 
greatly  disproportioned  to  the  disparity  in  force.  The  Java, 
like  the  Guerriere,  had  been  well  handled,  but  her  fire  had 
been  badly  aimed ;  arfd  it  began  to  be  no  longer  believed 
that  the  broadside  of  an  English  ship  was  as  formida- 
ble as  it  had  been  represented.  It  would  seem  that  the 
Constitution  actually  wore  six  times,  after  the  action  had 
fairly  commenced;  and  allowing  for  the  positions  of  the 
ships,  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  and  the  space  that  it  was 
necessary  to  run,  in  order  to  avoid  being  raked  while  exe- 
cuting these  evolutions,  it  is  probable  that  the  cannonade 
did  not  actually  occupy  an  hour.  The  action  must  have 
terminated  some  miles  to  leeward  of  the  spot  where  it 
commenced.* 

*  The  discussions  in  the  public  prints,  which  naturally  followed  the  dif- 
ferent combats,  in  nations  speaking  the  same  language,  brought  forth 
some  minute  statements  at  the  time,  that  seem  to  have  been  better  found- 
ed than  common.  By  one  of  these  statements,  which  was  evidently  made 
bj  an  officer  of  the  Constitution,  that  ship  mounted,  in  the  action  with 


196  If  AVAL  HISTORY. 

On  reaching  St.  Salvador,  Com.  Bainbridge  found  the 
Hornet  off  the  port,  and  it  was  understood  that  the  Bonne 
Citoyenne  had  hove-short,  with  an  intention  of  going  to  sea 
that  night.  The  arrival  of  the  Constitution  appears  to  have 
produced  a  change  in  this  plan,  if  it  ever  existed.  Re- 
maining a  few  days  in  port  to  land  his  prisoners,  and  to 
complete  his  arrangements,  Com.  Bainbridge  sailed  for 
America,  January  6,  1813,  and  arrived  at  Boston  on  the 
27th  of  February,  after  an  absence  of  four  months. 

The  Hornet  was  left  with  orders  that  were  substantially 
discretionary.  She  remained  off  St.  Salvador,  blockading 
the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  alone,  for  eighteen  days,  when  she 
was  chased  into  the  harbour  by  the  Montagu  74,  which 
vessel  had  come  to  relieve  the  enemy's  sloop  of  war  from 
the  awkward  necessity  of  fighting  with  so  much  treasure  on 
board,  or  of  the  still  more  unpleasant  dilemma  of  appearing 
indisposed  to  meet  a  ship  of  equal  force.*  It  was  late  in 

the  Java,  54  guns,  and  threw  677  Ibs.  5  oz.  of  metal  at  a  broadside;  the 
apparent  deficiency  between  the  metal  and  the  known  calibre  of  the  guns, 
arising  from  short  weight  in  the  shot.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Java  is  said 
to  have  mounted  49  guns,  and  to  have  thrown  605  Ibs.  of  metal  at  a  broad- 
side. It  is  affirmed  in  this  account,  that  the  Java's  eighteens  threw  a  shot 
that  weighed  19  Ibs.  If  French  eighteens,  the  shot  ought  to  have  weigh- 
ed near  19£  Ibs.,  and  the  Java  had  certainly  been  a  French  ship.  Whe- 
ther she  retained  her  old  armament  or  not,  is  not  known.  That  the  Ame- 
rican shot,  during  all  this  war,  were  generally  light,  would  seem  to  be 
certain.  There  may  not  have  been  perfect  accuracy  in  the  statement  al- 
luded to,  but  it  is  probable  that  the  actual  difference  between  the  broad- 
sides of  the  two  ships,  was  much  less  than  the  apparent. 

*  The  commander  of  the  Bonne  Citoyenne  was  much  sneered  at,  in  the 
publications  of  the  day,  for  not  going  out  to  meet  the  Hornet.  The  cen- 
sures, like  the  commendations,  of  ignorance  and  passion,  are  of  no  great 
importance,  and  he  is  entitled  to  the  highest  praise  who  can  perform  his 
duty  without  regarding  either.  It  would  be  very  difficult  to  show  that  a 
ship  sent  to  convey  treasure,  ought  to  seek  a  conflict  with  a  vessel  of  even 
inferior  force;  and  there  may  be  many  reasons  that,  if  known,  might 
reflect  credit  on  a  commander  for  refusing  a  challenge,  which  could  have 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  197 

the  evening  when  the  Montagu  approached,  and  the  Hornet 
,   availed  herself  of  the  darkness  to  ware  and  stand  out  again, 
passing  into  the  offing  without  further  molestation. 

Capt.  Lawrence  now  hauled  by  the  wind,  to  the  northward 
and  eastward,  with  the  intention  of  going  off  Pernambuco. 
,He  made  a  few  prizes,  and  continued  cruising  up  the  coast, 
until  the  24th  of  February,  when  the  ship  was  near  the 
mouth  of  Demarara  river.  Here  he  gave  chase  to  a  brig, 
which  drew  him  into  quarter  less  five,  when,  having  no  pilot, 
he  deemed  it  prudent  to  haul  off  shore.  At  this  moment  he 
supposed  himself  to  be  about  2^  leagues  from  the  fort  at  the 
entrance  of  the  river.  Just  without  the  bar,  another  brig 
was  seen.  As  she  had  an  English  ensign  set,  and  bore 
every  appearance  of  being  a  man-of-war,  it  was  determined 
•  to  attack  her.  While  the  Hornet  was  beating  round  the 
Carobana  bank,  which  lay  between  her  and  the  enemy, 
with  a  view  to  get  at  the  latter,  another  sail  was  made  on 
her  weather  quarter,  edging  down  towards  her.  It  was  now 
half  past  3  P.  M.,  and  the  Hornet  continuing  to  turn  to 
windward,  with  her  original  intention,  by  twenty  minutes 
past  4  the  second  stranger  was  made  out  to  be  a  large 
man-of-war  brig,  and  soon  after  he  showed  English  colours. 
As  soon  as  her  captain  was  satisfied  that  the  vessel  ap- 
proaching was  an  enemy,  the  Hornet  was  cleared  for  action, 
and  her  people  went  to  quarters.  The  ship  was  kept  close 
by  the  wind,  in  order  to  gain  the  weather  gage,  the  enemy 
still  running  free.  At  5  10,  feeling  certain  that  he  could 
weather  the  Englishman,  Capt.  Lawrence  showed  his 
colours  and  tacked.  The  two  vessels  were  now  standing 
towards  each  other,  with  their  heads  different  ways,  both 
close  by  the  wind.  They  passed  within  half  pistol-shot  at 

no  connexion  with  even  this  paiticular  fact.     Opinions  on  such  subjects 
ought  always  to  be  expressed  with  caution;  and  there  can  be  no  stronger 
evidence  of  the  high  level  of  the  public  mind,  than  is  showirin  an  indis- 
position to  listen  to  detraction  of  this  character. 
VOL.  II.— 17 


198  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

5  25,  delivering  their  broadsides  as  the  guns  bore;  each 
vessel  using  the  larboard  battery.  As  soon  as  they  were 
clear,  the  Englishman  put  his  helm  hard  up,  with  the  inten- 
tion to  ware  short  round,  and  get  a  raking  fire  at  the  Hor- 
net, but  the  manoeuvre  was  closely  watched  and  promptly 
imitated,  and,  firing  his  starboard  guns,  he  was  obliged  to 
right  his  helm,  as  the  Hornet  was  coming  down  on  his 
quarter,  in  a  perfect  blaze  of  fire.  The  latter  closed,  and 
maintaining  the  admirable  position  she  had  got,  poured  in 
her  shot  with  such  vigour,  that  a  little  before  5  40,  the 
enemy  not  only  lowered  his  ensign,  but  he  hoisted  it  union 
down,  in  the  fore-rigging,  as  a  signal  of  distress.  His  main- 
mast soon  after  fell. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Shubrick  was  sent  on  board  to  take  possession. 
This  officer  soon  returned  with  the  information  that  the 
prize  was  the  enemy's  sloop  of  war  Peacock  18,  Capt. 
Peake,  and  that  she  was  fast  sinking,  having  already  six  feet 
of  water  in  her  hold.  Mr.  Conner,  the  third  lieutenant  of 
the  Hornet,  and  Mr.  B.  Cooper,  one  of  her  midshipmen, 
were  immediately  despatched  with  boats,  to  get  out  the 
wounded,  and  to  endeavour  to  save  the  vessel.  It  was 
too  late  for  the  latter,  though  every  exertion  was  made. 
Both  vessels  were  immediately  anchored,  guns  were  thrown 
overboard,  shot-holes  plugged,  and  recourse  was  had  to  the 
pumps,  and  even  to  bailing,  but  the  short  twilight  of  that  low 
latitude  soon  left  the  prize  crew,  and  all  the  prisoners  were  not 
yet  removed.  In  the  hurry  and  confusion  of  such  a  scene, 
and  while  the  boats  of  the  Hornet  were  absent,  four  of  the 
prisoners  lowered  the  stern  boat  of  the  Peacock,  which  had 
been  thought  too  much  injured  to  be  used,  jumped  into  it, 
and  pulled  for  the  land,  at  the  imminent  risk  of  their  lives.* 

At  length,  Mr.  Conner  became  sensible  that  the  brig  was 
in  momentary  danger  of  sinking,  and  he  endeavoured  to 

*  These  adventurers  got  ashore  safely. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  199 

muster  the  people  remaining  on  board,  in  the  Peacock's 
launch,  which  still  stood  on  deck,  the  fall  of  the  main-mast, 
and  the  want  of  time,  having  prevented  an  attempt  to  get  it 
into  the  water.  Unfortunately,  all  hope  of  keeping  the  brig 
afloat  being  gone,  a  good  many  of  the  Peacock's  people 
were  below,  rummaging  the  vessel,  and  when  the  brig  gave 
her  last  wallow  it  was  too  late  to  save  them. 

The  Peacock  settled  very  easily  but  suddenly,  in  5^  fa- 
thoms water,  and  the  two  American  officers,  -with  most  of 
the  men  and  several  prisoners  saved  themselves  in  the 
launch,  though  not  without  great  exertions.  Three  of  the 
Hornet's  people  went  down  in  the  brig,  and  nine  of  the  Pea- 
cock's were  also  drowned.  Four  more  of  the  latter  saved 
themselves  by  running  up  the  rigging  into  the  fore-top,  which 
remained  out  of  water,  after  the  hull  had  got  to  the  bottom. 
The  launch  had  no  oars,  and  it  was  paddled  by  pieces  of 
boards  towards  the  Hornet,  when  it  was  met  by  one  of  the 
cutters  of  that  ship,  which  was  returning  to  the  brig.  This 
cutter  immediately  pulled  towards  the  Peacock's  fore-mast 
in  the  hope  of  finding  some  one  swimming,  but,  with  the 
exception  of  those  in  the  top,  no  person  was  saved. 

In  this  short  encounter,  the  Peacock  had  her  captain  and 
four  men  killed,  and  thirty-three  wounded.  The  Hornet 
had  one  man  killed,  and  two  wounded,  in  addition  to  two 
men  badly  burned  by  the  explosion  of  a  cartridge.  She 
suffered  a  good  deal  aloft,  had  one  shot  through  the  fore- 
mast, and  the  bowsprit  was  hit. 

The  Peacock  was  a  vessel  of  the  Hornet's  size,  being  a 
little  shorter  but  having  more  beam.  Her  proper  armament 
was  thirty-twos,  but,  for  some  reason  that  is  not  known, 
they  had  been  changed  for  lighter  guns,  and  in  the  action 
she  mounted  16  twenty-four  pound  carronades,  2  light  long 
guns,  a  12  pound  carronade  on  her  top-gallant  forecastle, 
and  another  light  long  gun  aft.  By  her  quarter  bill  she  had 
130  men  on  board,  at  the  time  she  was  taken.  This  force 


NAVAL  HISTORY'. 

rendered  her  inferior  to  the  Hornet,  which  ship  mounted  18 
thirty-two  pound  carronades  and  2  long  twelves.  The 
Hornet  in  the  action  mustered  135  men  fit  for  duty. 

Notwithstanding  the  superiority  of  the  Hornet,  the  same 
disparity  between  the  execution  and  the  difference  in  force, 
is  to  be  seen  in  this  action,  as  in  those  already  mentioned. 
In  allowing  the  Hornet  to  get  the  weather  gage,  the  Pea- 
cock was  out-manoeuvred,  but,  with  this  exception,  she  is  un- 
derstood to  have  been  well  managed,  though  her  gunnery 
was  so  defective.  The  only  shot  that  touched  the  hull  of 
the  Hornet,  was  one  fired  as  the  latter  ship  was  falling  off, 
in  waring,  and  it  merely  glanced  athwart  her  bows,  in- 
denting a  plank  beneath  the  cat-head.  As  this  must  have 
been  fired  from  the  starboard  guns  of  the  Peacock,  the  fact 
demonstrates  how  well  she  was  handled,  and  that,  in  waring, 
her  commander  had  rightly  estimated  and  judiciously  used 
the  peculiar  powers  of  a  brig,  though  the  quick  move- 
ments of  his  antagonist  deprived  him  of  the  results  he  had 
expected,  and  immediately  gave  the  Hornet  a  decided  ad- 
vantage in  position.  It  would  be  cavilling  to  deny  that  this 
short  combat  was  decided  by  the'  superior  gunnery  and 
rapid  handling  of  the  Hornet.* 

As  it  was  not  known  that  the  brig  at  anchor  might  not 
come  out  and  attack  her,  the  greatest  exertions  were  made 
on  board  the  Hornet,  to  be  in  readiness  to  receive  the  ene- 

*  It  is  said  that  the  first  shot  fired  by  the  Peacock  cut  away  the  Hor- 
net's pennant.  This  could  only  happen,  from  having1  struck  the  water  at 
a  most  unfortunate  angle.  The  man  killed  in  the  American  ship,  was  in 
the  mizzen  top.  Indeed,  in  most  of  the  combats  of  this  war,  much  sea- 
manship and  great  gallantry  were  discovered  by  the  enemy,  but  he  ap- 
peared singularly  deficient  in  the  knowledge  of  the  means  of  turning- 
these  advantages  to  account.  A  great  proportion  of  the  men  killed  and 
Vf-ounded,  were  aloft  when  they  were  hit.  Had  the  guns  of  the  Peacock 
been  of  the  largest  size,  they  could  not  have  materially  changed  the  result 
of  this  conflict,  as  the  weight  of  shot  that  do  not  hit,  is  of  no  great 
moment. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  201 

my,  and  by  9  o'clock  at  night,  new  sails  had  been  bent,  her 
boats  were  stowed,  the  ship  was  cleared,  and  every  thing 
was  ready  for  another  action.  At  2  A.  M.,  she  got  under 
way,  and  stood  to  the  northward  and  westward,  under 
easy  sail.  Capt.  Lawrence  finding  that  he  had  now  277 
souls  on  board,  including  the  people  of  another  prize,  and 
that  he  was  short  of  water,  determined  to  return  home. 
The  allowance  of  water  was  reduced  to  three  pints  a  man, 
and  the  ship  ran  through  the  West  Indies,  anchoring  at 
Holme's  Hole,  in  Martha's  Vineyard,  on  the  19th  of  March; 
whence  she  came  through  the  Vineyard  and  Lpng  Island 
Sounds  to  New  York,without  meeting  an  enemy. 

The  successes  of  the  Constitution  and  Hornet,  two  of  the 
vessels  of  Com.  Bainbridge's  squadron,  served  greatly  to  in- 
crease the  popularity  of  the  navy.  Their  commanders 
were  rewarded  with  medals,  swords,  and  votes  of  thanks, 
by  different  legislatures,  and  Capt  Lawrence  was  promoted, 
and  transferred  to  the  command  of  the  Chesapeake. 

Congress,  by  this  time,  began  to  feel  more  confidence  in 
the  ability  to  withstand  British  prowess,  and  a  law  had 
been  passed  on  the  2d  of  January,  to  increase  the  naval 
force  of  the  country.  By  the  provisions  of  this  act,  the 
President  was  empowered  to  build  four  ships  to  rate  not  less 
than  74  guns,  and  six  ships  to  rate  at  44  guns  each.  This 
was  at  once  multiplying  the  force  of  the  navy  ten  fold,  and 
it  may  be  esteemed  the  first  step  that  was  ever  actually  put 
in  execution,  towards  establishing  a  marine  that  might 
prove  of  moment,  in  influencing  the  material  results  of  a 
war.  Measures  were  taken  immediately  to  lay  the  keels  of 
some  of  the  ships  of  the  line,  and  Com.  Bainbridge,  being 
appointed  to  superintend  the  construction  of  one  of  them, 
relinquished  the  command  of  the  Constitution. 

Another  law  passed,  on  the  3d  of  March,  directing  six 
sloops  of  war  to  be  built  on  the  ocean,  and  authorizing  the 
construction  of  as  many  vessels  on  the  lakes,  as  the  public 

17* 


202  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

service  might  require.  Congress  also  voted  handsome 
sums  to  the  officers  and  crews  of  the  ships  that  had  destroy- 
ed captured  vessels  of  war,  in  the  way  of  prize  money. 

The  history  of  the  remaining  ship  of  Com.  Bainbridge's 
squadron,  shall  be  next  given,  with  a  view  not  to  interrupt 
the  connexion  of  this  branch  of  the  subject. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  203 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  Essex  32,  has  frequently  been  mentioned  in  the 
course  of  this  history.  This  ship  was  properly  rated,  her 
gun-deck  armament  having  originally  consisted  of  26  long 
twelves;  but  it  had  been  changed  previously  to  the  war, 
and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  chase  guns  of  this  calibre, 
she  mounted  32  pound  carronades  in  their  places.  Her  first 
cruise  was  under  Preble,  when  she  carried  the  pennant  of 
an  American  man-of-war,  for  the  first  time,  to  the  eastward 
of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  she  was  now  destined  to 
again  open  the  way  for  the  navy  into  a  new  sea. 

When  Com.  Bainbridge  sailed  from  Boston,  the  Essex, 
still  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Porter,  was  lying  in  the 
Delaware,  and  she  quitted  that  river  the  28th  of  October,  or 
two  days  after  the  other  ships  of  the  squadron  had  got  to 
sea.  In  anticipation  of  a  long  cruise,  Capt.  Porter  carried 
out  with  him  a  crew  larger  than  common,  and  a  greater 
number  of  officers  than  properly  belonged  to  a  vessel  of  that 
class;  the  entire  muster  roll  containing  319  names,  among 
which  were  three  commissioned  and  two  acting  lieutenants, 
and  twelve  midshipmen.  In  consequence  of  the  unusual 
amount  of  supplies  that  was  taken  in,  the  ship  was  too 
deep,  and  she  did  not  reach  the  first  rendezvous  named  in 
the  orders  of  Com.  Bainbridge,  until  some  time  after  the 
Constitution  and  Hornet  had  left  it. 

The  Essex  was  singularly  unfortunate,  in  not  falling  in 


204  ffAVAL  HISTORY. 

with  an  enemy  of  any  sort  in  making  this  long  run,  and  on 
the  llth  of  December  she  crossed  the  equator  in  longitude 
30°  W.,  the  same  bad  luck  attending  her.  On  the  12th, 
however,  about  2  P.  M.,  a  vessel  wa,s  seen  to  windward, 
which  had  every  appearance  of  an  enemy's  man-of-war 
brig,  when  sail  was  made  in  chase.  At  6,  the  stranger  be- 
gan to  show  signals,  which  went  to  confirm  the  idea  of  his 
character.  As  the  chase  was  still  to  windward,  and  night 
was  coming  on  fast,  an  effort  was  made  to  decoy  her  down, 
by  showing  signals  in  return,  but  unsuccessfully.  At  sunset 
the  brig  showed  English  colours,  and,  when  it  was  suffi- 
ciently dark,  she  made  some  night  signals.  By  9  P.  M.,  the 
Essex  succeeded  in  getting  within  musket  shot.  Capt.  Por- 
ter soon  after  hailed,  and  ordered  the  brig  to  settle  her  top- 
sails, haul  up  her  courses,  and  to  heave-to,  to  windward. 
At  the  same  time  orders  were  given  to  the  different  divi- 
sions not  to  fire  into  the  stranger,  as  it  was  very  desirable 
to  get  possession  without  doing  him  any  injury.  Instead  of 
complying  with  the  directions  of  Capt.  Porter,  however,  the 
brig  endeavoured  to  cross  the  stern  of  the  Essex,  by  keep- 
ing away,  probably  with  an  intention  to  rake  her,  and  to 
escape  to  leeward.  This  drew  a  volley  of  musketry  from, 
the  frigate,  which  killed  one  man,  when  the  brig  struck. 

The  prize  was  the  British  government  packet  Nocton  10, 
with  a  crew  of  31  men.  On  board  of  her  were  found 
855,000  in  specie.  The  next  day  a  crew  of  17  men  was 
put  into  the  Nocton,  under  the  orders  of  Act.  Lieut.  Finch,* 
who  was  instructed  to  make  the  best  of  his  way  to  America. 
This  officer  had  got  between  Bermuda  and  the  Capes  of 
Virginia,  in  the  execution  of  his  duty,  when  he  was  com- 
pelled to  heave-to,  in  a  gale.  Just  as  the  weather  moder- 
ated, a  British  frigate  was  made  to  windward.  Mr. 
Finch  tried  the  sailing  of  the  brig  with  the  enemy,  on  dif- 

*  Now  Capt.  Wm,  Compton  Bolton. 


NAVAL  HISTORV.  205 

ferent  tacks,  but  finally  put  away  dead  before  the  wind,  as 
the  only  means  of  escape.  As  it  was  not  in  the  power  of 
the  prize  crew  to  make  sail  with  sufficient  rapidity  to  com- 
pete with  a  frigate's  complement  of  men,  the  Nocton  was 
soon  within  reach  of  the  enemy's  guns,  and  a  few  shot 
were  fired,  which  did  some  injury  to  her  rigging.  Mr. 
Finch,  however,  held  on,  until  the  enemy  had  got  close  upon 
his  quarter,  and  was  about  to  fire  a  volley  of  musketry, 
when,  escape  being  hopeless,  he  struck.  Thus  did  the  Es- 
sex lose  her  first  prize,  though  the  specie  had  been  taken 
out  of  her,  and  was  rendered  secure  by  being  subsequently 
used  on  account  of  the  government. 

On  the  14th,  the  Essex  made  the  island  of  Fernando  de 
Noronha,  and  communicated  with  the  land,  without  going 
in.  Here  Capt.  Porter  obtained  the  letter  mentioned  from 
Com.  Bainbridge,  informing  him  that  he  would  find  the  other 
vessels  off  Cape  Frio.  From  this  time,  until  the  25th,  the 
ship  was  making  her  passage  towards  the  coast,  and  on  the 
afternoon  of  that  day,  she  hove-to  off  the  pitch  of  the  Cape, 
where  no  signs  were  to  be  seen  of  the  Constitution  or 
Hornet.  Three  days  afterwards,  in  fact,  the  first  of  these 
vessels  captured  the  Java  off  St.  Salvador.  After  cruising 
a  short  time,  at  this  rendezvous,  the  Essex  was  drawn  a 
long  distance  to  leeward  in  chase;  and  in  attempting  to  beat 
up  again  to  her  station,  she  was  met  by  heavy  weather, 
which  induced  Capt.  Porter  to  change  his  cruising  ground. 
On  the  morning  of  the  29th,  the  frigate  captured  an  English 
merchant  vessel,  which  proved  to  be  one  of  a  convoy  of  six 
sail,  in  charge  of  a  man-of-war  schooner,  that  had  sailed 
from  Rio,  only  the  night  previously,  this  vessel  having  put 
back  in  consequence  of  discovering  a  leak.  On  obtaining 
this  intelligence,  Capt.  Porter  followed  on  the  supposed 
track  of  the  convoy,  and  after  a  long  and  fruitless  chase,  he 
determined  to  go  off  St.  Salvador,  in  order  to  intercept 
it.  While  beating  up  with  this  intention,  information  was 


206  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

received  from  different  Portuguese  vessels,  of  the  pre- 
sence of  the  other  ships  of  the  squadron  off  the  port,  and 
renewed  efforts  were  made  to  join.  But  strong  northerly 
winds  prevailed,  and  Capt.  Porter,  after  struggling  with 
them  a  week,  decided  to  run  into  St.  Catherine's  to  water. 

Having  been  disappointed  in  his  attempts  to  fall  in  with 
the  commodore,  at  three  rendezvous,  and  ascertaining  that 
the  Montagu  74,  had  sailed  from  Rio  to  raise  the  blockade  of 
the  vessels  at  St.  Salvador,  Capt.  Porter  was  ROW  greatly  at 
a  loss  which  way  to  steer,  in  order  to  join  the  other  ships.  It 
was  near  the  end  of  January,  1813,  and,  in  point  of  fact,  the 
Constitution  had  left  the  coast  on  the  6th  of  that  month,  on 
her  way  home.  As  the  Hornet  followed  her  on  the  24lh, 
in  determining  to  act  for  himself,  during  the  remainder  of 
the  cruise,  Capt.  Porter  came  to  a  happy  decision. 

An  American  frigate,  at  that  day,  cruising  under  the 
circumstances  of  the  Essex,  was  in  a  very  peculiar  and  dif- 
ficult position.  The  influence  of  Great  Britain  extended  over 
the  whole  of  the  South  American  continent,  and  nothing 
had  been  done  by  the  American  government  to  counteract 
it,  In  all  the  ports,  on  the  east  side  of  the  continent  in  par- 
ticular, little  was  to  be  expected  from  any  of  the  local  au- 
thorities ;  and  the  nation  was  totally  without  depots,  or  any 
provision  whatever,  for  the  equipment  of  men-of-war,  out 
of  its  own  ports.  Even  those  that  existed  at  home,  were 
imperfect,  on  a  small  scale,  and  very  insufficient.  It  can- 
not be  too  often  repeated,  that  in  connexion  with  this  im- 
portant branch  of  the  public  service,  as  in  most  others,  the 
facts  of  the  country  had  been  permitted  to  precede  its  opi- 
nion, and  its  necessities  to  press  upon  its  meagre  and  in- 
complete preparations.  Capt.  Porter  now  found  himself  far 
from  home,  in  what  might  almost  be  termed  an  enemy's 
sea,  and  without  any  of  those  provisions  for  re-victualling 
repairing  and  obtaining  military  supplies,  that  are  as  indis- 
pensable -in  a  naval  as  in  a  military  campaign.  In  other 

«'  '  »     -M 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 

words,  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources.     In  this 
novel  situation,  he  determined  to  go  still  farther  from  home, 
to  double  Cape  Horn,  and,  by  making  a  dash  at  the  English 
whalers  in  the  Pacific,  to  live  upon  the  enemy.    The  posses- 
sion of  the  specie  taken  in  the  Nocton,  and  the  knowledge 
that  every  whaler  was  well-found  in  naval  stores  and  pro- 
visions, their  voyages  commonly  extending  to  more  than 
three  years,  rendered  this  project  not  only  expedient,  but 
practicable.     It  was  thought  that  England  had  no  force  in 
that  sea  to  protect  her  commerce,  with  the  exception  of  a 
single  ship  of  the  line,  which  it  was  understood  was  about  to 
quit  it;  and  this  bold  scheme  was,  in  truth,  as  much  charac- 
terized by  wisdom  and  prudence,  as  it  was  by  enterprise 
and  spirit,  qualities  that  equally  indicate  the  accomplished  of- 
ficer.   The  season  was  late  for  doubling  the  Horn,  it  is  true, 
the  ship  was  even  then  deficient  in  provisions  and  naval 
stores,  but  as  Capt.  Porter  has  since  explained  his  situation, 
in  his  own  journal,  his  course  lay  between  the  attempt, 
"capture,  a  blockade  and  starvation." 
,  The  Essex  left  St.  Catherine's  on  the.  26th  of  January 
1813,  and  after  a   most   tempestuous  passage  round  the 
Horn,  she  fell  in  with  the  pleasant  south-west  breezes  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean  on  the  5th  of  March,  and  at  meridian  of  that 
day  her  people  got  a  distant  view  of  the  Andes.     On  the 
5th,  she  anchored  at  the  island  of  Mocha.  Here  some  hogs 
and  horses  were  procured  for  the  crew,  and  it  is  worthy  of 
remark,  that  ihe  flesh  of  the  latter  was  generally  preferred 
to  that  of  the  former. 

The  Essex  was  now  fairly  in  the  Pacific,  though  she  had 

not  fallen  in  with  an  enemy  for  two  months.     There  was 

but  one  chart  of  the  ocean  in  the  ship,  and  that  was  very 

small  and  imperfect;  the  provisions  were  getting  short,  and 

r    the  vessel  was  much  in  want  of  cordage.     Notwithstanding 

>  these  necessities,  Capt.  Porter  felt  reluctant  to  let  his  arrival 

be  known,  until  he  had  made  a  few  captures,  hoping  to  supply 


208  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

his  ship  from  his  prizes.  Anxious  to  obtain  information 
of  ihe  British  force,  by  the  same  means,  he  determined  to 
cruise  a  short  time  before  he  proceeded  to  Valparaiso.  An 
ill  fortune,  however,  dontinued  to  prevail,  and  for  many 
days  the  ship  was  enveloped  in  fogs.  She  continued  stand- 
ing along  shore,  to  the  northward;  and  on  the  13th,  while 
running  before  a  stiff  southerly  breeze,  she  rounded  the 
Point  of  Angels,  shot  into  full  view  of  the  port  and  town  of 
Valparaiso,  and  was  becalmed  under  the  guns  of  a  battery. 

As  he  had  English  colours  flying,  Capt.  Porter  came  to  a 
conclusion  not  to  go  in,  for,  taking  a  survey  of  the  shipping 
in  port,  and  perceiving  several  Spaniards  ready  to  sail,  he 
thought  it  prudent  to  let  them  get  to  sea  before  the  arrival 
of  an  American  cruiser  became  known  in  the  .place.  One 
American  was  seen  lying  at  anchor;  a  deeply  laden  brig, 
pierced  for  18  guns.  This  vessel  had  her  yards  and  top- 
masts struck,  and  boarding  nettings  triced  up,  as  if  she  dis- 
trusted her  security,  even  in  port.  The  ship's  head  was 
consequently  kept  to  the  northward,  and  the  breeze  strik- 
ing her  again,  shortly  after,  she  ran  the  town  out  of  sight  in 
an  hour  or  two.  On  the  15th,  however,  the  ship  returned, 
made  the  Point  of  Angels  once  more,  went  in,  and  anchored. 

To  the  astonishment  of  Capt.  Porter,  he  now  ascertained 
that  Chili  had  declared  itself  independent  of  Spain,  and  his 
reception  was  as  favourable  as  he  could  have  desired.  He 
also  learned  that  the  viceroy  of  Peru  had  sent  out  cruisers 
against  the  American  shipping,  and  that  his  appearance  in 
the  Pacific  was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  American 
trade,  which  lay  at  the  mercy  of  the  English  letters  of 
marque  among  the  whalers  of  the  enemy,  and  of  these  Peru- 
vian corsairs.  This  was  cheering  intelligence,  after  the 
fatigues  and  disappointments  of  a  cruise  of  so  many  months ! 

For  more  than  a  week  the  Essex  -was  employed  in  vic- 
tualling, and  during  this  time  an  American  whaler  came 
in  from  the  islands.  According  to  the  accounts  of  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  209 

master  of  this  vessel,  the  American  whalers,  which  had  left 
home  during  a  time  of  peace,  lay  entirely  at  the  mercy  of 
those  of  the  enemy,  several  of  which  had  sailed  as  regular 
letters  of  marque,  and  all  of  which  were  more  or  less 
armed.  Many  of  the  American  vessels,  as  they  often  kept 
the  sea  six  months  at  a  time,  were  probably  still  ignorant  of 
the  war;  and  it  was  known  that  one  of  them,  at  least,  had 
already  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  English.  As  soon  as 
imperfectly  victualled^  the  ship  went  to  sea,  to  profit  by  this 
intelligence. 

.  On  the  25th,  the  Essex  fell  in  with  the  American  whale- 
ship  Charles,  and  learned  that  two  other  vessels,  the  Walker 
and  Barclay,  had  been  captured,  a  few  days  previously,  off 
Coquimbo,  by  a  Peruvian,  with  an  English  ship  in  company. 
Sail  was  made,  in  consequence,  in  the  direction  of  Co- 
quimbo, and,  a  few  hours  later,  a  stranger  was  seen  to  the 
northward.  This  vessel  was  soon  ascertained  to  be  a  cruis- 
ing ship,  disguised  as  a  whaler.  She  showed  Spanish 
colours,  when  the  Essex  set  an  English  ensign,  fired  a  gun 
to  leeward,  and  the  Charles,  which  remained  in  company, 
hoisted  tho  American  flag  beneath  an  English  jack.  The 
Spaniard  now  ran  down,  and,  when  about  a  mile  distant,  he 
fired  a  shot  ahead  of  the  Essex,  which  that  ship  answered 
by  throwing  a  few  shot  over  him,  Xo  bring  him  nearer. 
When  close  enough,  the  Spanish  ship  sent  an  armed  boat 
to  board  the  Essex,  and  it  was  directed  to  go  back  with  an 
order  for  the  cruiser  to  run  under  the  frigate's  lee,  and  to 
send  an  officer  to  apologise  for  the  shot  she  had  fired  at  an 
English  man  of  war.  This  command  was  complied  with, 
and  the  ship  was  ascertained  to  be  the  Peruvian  privateer 
Nereyda,  armed  with  15  guns,  and  vyith  a  full  crew.  The 
lieutenant,  who  now  came  on  board,  informed  Capt.  Porter 
that  they  were  cruising  for  Americans;  that  they  had  al- 
ready taken  the  Walker  and  the  Barclay ;  that  the  English 
letter  of  marque  Nimrod  had  driven  their  prize-crew  from 
VOL.  II.— 18 


210  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

on  board  the  Walker;  that  they  were  now  cruising  ex- 
pressly to  look  for  the  Nimrod,  with  the  intention  of  ob- 
taining redress ;  and  that  they  had  mistaken  the  Essex  for 
the  latter  ship.  It  would  seem  that  the  Peruvians  cruised 
against  the  Americans,  under  the  impression  that  Spain,  then 
so  dependent  on  England  for  her  existence,  would  declare 
war  speedily  against  the  United  States,  in  consequence  of 
the  war  declared  by  the  latter  against  the  king  of  Great 
Britain,  which  might  legalize  their  captures. 

An  interview  with  the  master  of  the  Walker  satisfied 
Capt.  Porter  that  the  captured  ships  had  been  illegally 
seized ;  and  hoisting  American  colours,  he  fired  two  shots 
over  the  Nereyda,  when  that  vessel  struck.  Her  crew  were 
all  sent  on  board  the  Essex,  and  the  three  ships  stood  in- 
shore to  look  into  Coquimbo,  in  the  hope  of  finding  the  Nim- 
rod and  the  prizes,  but  without  success.  The  next  morning, 
the  entire  armament  of  the  Nereyda,  with  all  her  ammuni- 
tion, shot,  small  arms,  and  light  sails,  were  thrown  over- 
board, and  she  was  otherwise  put  in  a  condition  to  do  no 
harm,  when  she  was  released.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
the  guns  of  this  vessel  were  of  iron,  while  her  shot  of  all 
descriptions  were  of  copper;  the  abundance  of  the  latter 
in  that  part  of  the  world,  rendering  it  cheaper  than  the 
metal  usually  employed  for  such  purposes. 

From  the  master  and  crew  of  the  Barclay,  Capt.  Porter 
obtained  a  list  of  such  of  the  whaling  vessels  as  they  knew 
to  be  in  the  Pacific.  It  contained  the  names  of  twenty-three 
American,  and  of  ten  English  ships.  The  former  was  pro- 
bably the  most  correct,  as  his  informants  added  that  quite 
twenty  Englishmen  were  thought  to  be  in  that  sea.  The 
latter  were,  in  general,  fine  vessels  of  near  400  tons  bur- 
then, and,  as  has  been  said  already,  they  were  all  more  or 
less  armed.  ... 

Capt.  Porter  had  now  a  double  object;  to  protect  his 
countrymen,  and  to  capture  the  enemy.  The  latter  were 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  211 

known  to  resort  to  the  Gallipagos,  but  he  hesitated  about 
striking  a  blow  in  that  quarter,  until  he  could  be  assured 
that  the  Standard  64  had  left  Lima,  for  England;  and,  as 
he  thought  the  prizes  of  the  Nimrod  and  Nereyda  would 
endeavour  to  go  into  that  port,  he  determined  to  make  the 
best  of  his  way  thither,  in  order  to  cut  them  off,  as  well  as 
to  reconnoitre. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  the  ship  was  up  with  the  island  of 
San  Gallan,  where  she  hauled  off  to  the  northward  and  west- 
ward, with  a  view  to  cross  the  track  of  inward-bound  ves- 
sels. The  next  day,  three  sail  were  made,  standing  for 
Callao.  Every  thing  was  set  to  cut  the  strangers  off,  parti- 
cularly the  one  nearest  in,  who  had  the  appearance  of  the 
Barclay.  The  chase,  however,  would  have  escaped,  had 
she  not  been  becalmed  when  she  doubled  the  point  of  San 
Lorenzo.  At  this  moment  the  frigate  was  near  a  league 
distant,  but,  fortunately,  she  kept  the  breeze  until  she  had  got 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy  >  when  she  lowered 
down  her  boats,  and  took  possession.  The  prize  proved  to 
be  the  Barclay,  as  had  been  expected.  There  was  now  a 
good  opportunity  of  looking  into  the  harbour,  and  finding  that 
nothing  had  arrived  from  Valparaiso  to  disclose  his  presence 
in  the  Pacific,  Capt.  Porter  showed  English  colours,  while 
the  Barclay  hoisted  the  American  under  the  enemy's  en- 
sign. In  this  manner  both  vessels  went  into  the  offing, 
where  the  Barclay  was  given  up  to  her  proper  officers, 
though,  most  of  her  crew  having  entered  in  the  Essex,  and 
declining  to  rejoin  the  ship,  her  master  .preferred  keeping  in 
company  with  the  frigate,  offering  to  act  as  a  pilot  in 
searching  for  the  enemy.  With  this  understanding,  the  two 
vessels  stretched  off  the  coast,  to  the  northward  and  west- 
ward. 

From  the  end  of  March  until  the  middle  of  April,  the 
Essex,  with  the  Barclay  in  company,  was  standing  across 
from  the  main  towards  the  islands,  and  on  the  17th,  she 


212  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

made  Chatham  Island;  but  no  ship  was  found  there.  From 
this  place  the  frigate  went  to  Charles'  Island,  where  she 
had  the  same  want  of  success.  At  the  latter  island, 
however,  was  a  box  called  "the  post-office,"  in  which  the 
masters  of  the  whalers  were  accustomed  to  leave  written 
accounts  of  their  luck  and  movements,  and  much  infor- 
mation was  obtained  from  them,  concerning  the  different 
ships  in  the  Pacific. 

The  .Essex  continued  passing  from  island  to  island,  with- 
out meeting  with  any  thing,  until  her  crew  was  aroused  by 
the  cheering  cry  of  "  sail-ho !"  op  the  morning  of  the  29th. 
A  ship  was  made  to  the  westward,  and,  soon  after,  two 
more  a  little  further  south.  Chase  was  given  to  the  first 
vessel,  which  was  spoke  under  English  colours,  about  9  A. 
M.  She  proved  to  be  the  British  whale-ship  Montezuma, 
with  1400  barrels  of  oil  on  board.  Throwing  a  crew  into 
the  prize,  the  Essex  next  made  sailafter  the  two  other  ships, 
which  had  taken  the  alarm,  and  endeavoured  to  escape.  At 
1 1  A.  M.,  when  the  frigate  was  about  eight  miles  from  the 
two  strangers,  it  fell  calm,  and  the  boats  were  hoisted  out 
and  sent  against  the  enemy,  under  Mr.  Downes,  the  first 
lieutenant.  About  2  P.  M.,  the  party  got  within  a  mile  of 
the  nearest  ship,  when  the  two  strangers,  who  were  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  apart,  hoisted  English  colours,  and  fired  seve- 
ral guns.  The  boats  now  formed,  and  pulled,for  the  largest 
ship,  which  kept  training  her  guns  on  them  as  they  ap- 
proached, but  struck  without  firing  a  shot,  just  as  the 
boarders  were  closing.  The  second  vessel  imitated  her 
example,  when  attacked  in  the  same  manner.* 

*  The  reader  may  get  an  idea  of  a  seaman's  life,  in  these  little  incidents. 
In  1802,  we  have  seen  Capt.  Porter,  as  a  lieutenant,  going1  in  boats,  with 
Mr.  Downes,  then  a  midshipman,  as  an  assistant,  against  Turks  in  the 
Mediterranean;  and  here  we  find  the  first,  as  a  captain,  directing  the 
movements  of  the  second,  his  first  lieutenant,  ten  years  later,  in  the  Pac  i 
fie,  against  Englishmen. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  213 

The  prizes  were  the  Georgiana  and  the  Policy,  both  wha- 
lers ;  and  the  three  ships,  together,  furnished  the  Essex  with 
many  important  supplies.  They  had  bread,  beef,  pork,  cor- 
dage, water,  and  among  other  useful  things,  a  great  number 
of  Gallipagos'  tortoises. 

vThe  Georgiana  had  been  built  for  the  service  of  the  Eng- 
lish East  India  Company,  and  having  the  reputation  of  being 
a  fast  vessel,  Capt.  Porter  determined  to  equip  her  as  a 
cruiser,  with  the  double  purpose  of  having  an  assistant  in 
looking  for  the  enemy,  and  of  possessing  a  consort  to  re- 
lieve his  own  crew,  in  the  event  of  any  accident's  occurring 
to  the  Essex.    This  ship  was  pierced  for  18  guns,  and  had  6 
mounted  when  taken.     The  Policy  was  also  pierced  for  the 
same  number,  and  had  10  guns  mounted. .,  The  latter  were 
now  added  to  the  armament  of  the  Georgiana,  which  gave 
her  16  light  guns.     All  the  small  arms  were  collected  from 
the  prizes  and  put  in  her,  her  try-works  were  taken  down, 
and  other  alterations  made,  when  Mr.  Downes  was  placed  in 
command,  with  a  crew  of  41  men.     By  this  arrangement,  it 
was  believed  that  the  Georgiana  would  be  fully  able  to  cap- 
ture any  of  the  English  letters  of  marque,  known  to  be 
cruising   among   the    islands.      In    consequence   of  these 
changes,  and  the  manning  the  two  other  prizes,  notwith- 
standing several  enlistments,  the  crew  of  the  Essex  was 
reduced  to  264  souls,   officers    included.  ...,On  the  8th  of 
May,  the  Georgiana  16,  Lieut.  Com.  Downes,  hoisted  the 
American  pennant,  and  fired  a  salute  of  17  guns.'/ 

It  being  uncommonly  fine  weather,  Capt.  Porter  seized 
the  opportunity  of  repairing  his  own  ship,  by  means  of  the 
stores  obtained  from  the  enemy.  The  rigging  was  over- 
hauled and  tarred  down,  many  new  spars  were  fitted,  and 
the  ship  was  painted  in  the  middle  of  the  Pacific,  the  enemy 
furnishing  the  means. 

18* 


214  IT  AVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


A  FEW  trials,  as  soon  as  the  ships  made  sail,  proved  that 
the  Georgiana  could  not  hold  way  with  the  Essex,  and  that 
her  reputation,  as  a  fast  vessel,  was  unmerited.  Still,  as  she 
had  been  relieved  from  much  of  her  lumber,  she  outsailed 
the  other  ships,  and  hopes  were  entertained  of  her  being 
made  useful.  Accordingly,  on  the  12th,  she  parted  company, 
with  orders  to  cruise  against  the  enemy,  and  to  rendezvous 
at  different  points  on  the  coast,  as  well  as  at  various  islands, 
in  a  regular  succession  as  to  time.  The  separation  was  not 
long,  however,  the  Georgiana  looking  into  Charles'  Island, 
in  quest  of  English  vessels,  at  a  moment  when  the  Essex 
happened  to  be  there,  on  the  same  errand. 

The  Georgiana  was  now  sent  to  Albermale  Island,  Capt. 
Porter  having  reason  to  suppose  that  a  particular  ship  of 
the  enemy  was  in  that  quarter.  The  chaplain,  having  been 
allowed  to  make  a  short  scientific  excursion  in  boats,  fell  in 
with  a  strange  sail,  on  returning,  and  the  Essex  immedi- 
ately went  to  sea,  in  quest  of  her.  But  a  cruise  of  several 
days  was  fruitless ;  and  the  ship  continued  passing  among 
the  islands,  in  the  hope  of  falling  in  with  something.  An 
attempt  to  get  across  to  the  continent  was  defeated  by  the 
lightness  of  the  winds  and  the  strength  of  the  westerly  cur- 
rents ;  and  on  the  25th  of  May,  the  Essex  was  still  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Charles'  Island. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  215 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  however,  a  sail  was  made 
ahead,  and  a  general  chase  was  given,  the  Policy,  Monte- 
zuma,  and  Barclay  being  all  in  company.  At  sunset,  the 
stranger  was  visible  from  the  frigate's  deck.  By  distribut- 
ing the  vessels  in  a  proper  manner,  the  chase  was  in  sight 
next  morning;  and  after  a  good  deal  of  manreuvring,  the 
Essex  got  along  side  of  her,  and  captured  the  British  wha- 
ler Atlantic,  of  355  tons,  24  men,  and  8  eighteen-pound 
carronades.  This  ship,  however,  was  pierced  for  20  guns. 

Another  strange  sail  had  been  made  while  in  chase  of 
the  Atlantic,  and  she  was  pursued,  and  overtaken  in  the 
course  of  the  night.  This  ship  was  the  Greenwich,  of  338 
tons,  10  guns,  and  25  men.  Both  the  Atlantic  and  Green- 
wich had  letters  of  marque,  and  being  fast  ships,  were  e*x- 
tremely  dangerous  to  the  American  trade  in  the  Pacific. 
When  the  Essex  took  these  vessels,  every  officer  but  the 
captain,  the  chaplain,  captain's  clerk,  and  boatswain,  were 
out  of  her,  either  in  boats,  or  in  prizes;  the  first  having  been 
lowered  in  a  calm  to  chase,  and  left  to  be  picked  up  by  the 
Montezuma,  when  a  breeze  struck  the  frigate. 

As  Capt.  Porter  had  now  four  large  prizes  in  company, 
besides  the  Georgiana  and  the  Barclay,  it  became  necessa- 
ry to  put  even  the  marine  officer,  Lieut.  Gamble,  in  charge 
of  one  of  them,  when  he  shaped  his  course  for  Tumbez,  on 
the  continent,  where  he  anchored  on  the  19th  of  June. 
Here  the  ships  remained  until  the  morning  of  the  24th, 
when  three  sail  were  discovered  standing. into  the  bay. 
As  soon  as  they  had  got  within  two  leagues,  the  leading 
vessel  hove-to,  and  sent  in  a  boat,  on  board  of  which  was 
Mr.  Downes.  By  this  arrival,  an  account  of  the  movements 
of  the  Georgiana  was  obtained. 

While  cruising  near  James'  Island,  Mr.  Downes  had  cap- 
tured the  British  whale  ships  the  Catherine,  of  270  tons,  8 
guns,  and  29  men,  and  the  Rose,  of  220  tons,  8  guns, 
and  21  men.  These  two  vessels  were  taken  with  no  re- 


216  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

sistanee,  their  masters  having  cope  on  board  the  Georgi- 
ana,  without  suspecting  her  character.  After  manning  his 
prizes,  Mr.  Downes  had  but  20  men  and  boys  left  in  the 
Georgiana,  when  he  chased  and  closed  with  a  third  whaler, 
called  the  Hector,  a  ship  of  270  tons,  25  men,  and  11  guns, 
though  pierced  for  20.  At  this  time,  Mr.  Downes  had  also 
50  prisoners,  most  of  whom  he  was  compelled  to  put  in 
irons,  before  he  brought  the  Hector  to  action.*  When 
within  hail,  the  latter  ship  was  ordered  to  haul  down  her 
colours,  but  refused,  and  the  Georgiana  opened  a  fire  upon 
her.  A  sharp  little  combat  followed,  when  the  Hector 
struck,  with  the  loss  of  her  rnain-topmast,  having  had  most 
of  her  standing  and  running-rigging  shot  away.  She  had 
also  2  men  killed,  and  6  wounded. 

After  manning  the  Hector,  Mr.  Downes  had  but  10  men 
left  in  the  Georgiana;  and,  including  the  wounded,  he  had 
73  prisoners.  The  Rose  being  a  dull  ship,  he  threw  over- 
board her  guns,  and  most  of  her  cargo,  and  parolling  his 
prisoners,  he  gave  her  up  to  them,  on  condition  that  they 
should  sail  direct  for  St.  Helena.  As  soon  as  this  arrange- 
ment was  made,  he  made/sail  for  Turnbez,  to  join  the 
Essex.  '',"'• 

The  little  fleet  now  amounted  to  nine  sail,  and  there 
was  an  opportunity  to  make  new  arrangements.  The  At- 
lantic being  nearly  100  tons  largpr  than  the  Georgiana, 
as  well  as  a  much  faster  ship,  besides  possessing,  in  a 
greater  degree,  every  material  quality  for  a  cruiser,  Mr. 
Downes  and  his  crew  were  transferred  to  her.  Tvventv 


*  It  is  a  curious  fact,  illustrative  of  the  strong  identity  which  exists  be- 
tween the  feeling's  of  English  and  American  seamen,  on  certain  points, 
that  when  the  Georgiana  .went  along  side  of  the  Hector,  in  the  night,  it 
was  under  the  impression  that  the  latter  was  a  Spanish  cruiser,  out-of 
Lima,  and  the  prisoners,  to  a  man,  volunteered  to  help  flog  her!  Their 
services  were  declined,  of  course,  but  the  offer  appears  to  have  been 
made  in  perfect  good  faith. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  217 

guns  were  mounted  in  this  new  sloop  of  war;  she  was 
named  the  Essex  Junior,  and  manned  with  60  men.  The 
Greenwich  was  also  converted  into  a  store-ship,  and  all  the 
spare  stores  of  the  other  vessels  were  sent  on  board  her. 
She  was  also  armed  with  20  guns,  though  her  crew  was 
merely  strong  enough  to  work  her. 

On  the  30th  the  fleet  sailed,  the  Essex  and  Essex  Junior 
keeping  in  company,  with  all  the  carpenters  at  work  at  the 
latter.  On  the  4th  of  July,  a  general  salute  was  fired,  prin- 
cipally with  the  guns  and  ammunition  of  the  enemy.  On 
the  9th,  the  Essex  Junior  parted  company,  bound  to  Valpa- 
raiso, with  the  Hector,  Catharine,  Policy,  and  Montezuma, 
prizes,  and  the  Barclay,  recaptured  ship,  under  convoy. 

As  soon  as  out  of  sight  of  tbe;  other  ships,  the  Essex, 
Greenwich  and  Georgiana  steered  to  the  westward,  with 
an  intention  of  going  among  the  Gallipagos.  On  the  13th, 
three  .sail  were  made  off  Banks'  Bay,  all  on  a  wind,  and  a 
good  deal  separated.  The  Essex  gave  chase  to  the  one  in 
the  centre,  which  led  her  down  to  leeward,  leaving  the 
Greenwich  and  Georgiana  a  long  distance  astern  and  to 
windward.  While  the  frigate  was  thus  separated  from  her 
prizes,  one  of  the  strangers  tacked,  and  endeavoured  to  cut 
the  latter  off,  but  the  Greenwich  hove-to,  got  a  portion  of 
the  people  out  of  the  Georgiana,  and  bore  down  boldly  on 
*  her  adversary;  while  the  Essex  continued  after  the  vessel 
she  was  chasing,  which  she  soon  captured.  This  ship  was 
the  English  whaler  Charlton,  of  274  tons,  10  guns,  and 
21  men.  Throwing  a  crew  into  her,  the  frigate  immediate- 
ly hauled  her  wind. 

It  was  now  ascertained  from  the  prisoners,  tha,t  the 
largest  of  the  strange  ships  was  the  Seringapatam,  of  357 
tons,  14  guns,  and  near  40  men ;  and  the  smallest,  the  New- 
Zealander,  of  259  tons,  8  guns,  and  23  men.  The  Seringa- 
patam had  been  built  for  a  cruiser,  and  she  was  probably 
the  most  dangerous  vessel  to  the  American  trade,  to  the 


218  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

westward  of  Cape  Horn.  Capt.  Porter  felt  a  corresponding 
desire  to  get  possession  of  her,  and  was  much  gratified  with 
the  bold  manner  in  which  the  Greenwich  bore  down  on  her. 
This  ship  was  under  the  command  of  a  very  young  officer, 
but  he  had  the  advice  of  one  of  the  sea-lieutenants,  who  was 
under  suspension,  and  who  conducted  with  great  gallantry 
and  spirit  on  this  occasion.  Closing  with  the  Seringapatam, 
the  Essex  being  a  long  distance  to  leeward,  the  Greenwich 
brought  her  to  action,  and  after  a  few  broadsides,  the  Eng- 
lish ship  struck.  Soon  after,  however,  and  before  possession 
could  be  taken,  she  made  an  attempt  to  escape  by  passing 
to  windward,  in  which  she  was  frustrated  by  the  persever- 
ance of  the  Greenwich,  which  vessel  kept  close  on  the 
enemy's  quarter,  maintaining  a  spirited  fire,  for  the  number 
of  men  on  board.  As  the  Essex  was  coming  up  fast,  the 
Seringapatam  finally  gave  up  the  attempt,  and  running  down 
to  the  frigate,  again  submitted. 

In  this  affair,  as  in  that  of  the  boats,  and  in  the  capture 
of  the  Hector  by  the  Georgiana,  the  officers  and  men  en- 
gaged merited  high  encomiums  for  their  intrepidity  and 
coolness.  The  Greenwich,  after  obtaining  the  hands  from 
the  Georgiana,  did  not  probably  muster  five-and-twenty 
men  at  quarters,  and  the  Seringapatam  was  much  the  better 
ship.  The  New-Zealander  was  taken  without  any  difficulty. 

The  Seringapatam  had  made  one  prize,  her  master  hav- 
ing turned  his  attention  more  to  cruising  than  to  whaling. 
On  inquiry,  notwithstanding,  it  was  found  that  he  had  adopt- 
ed this  course  in  anticipation  of  a  commission,  having  ac- 
tually sailed  without  one.  When  this  fact  was  ascertained, 
Capt.  Porter  put  the  master  in  irons,  and  he  subsequently 
sent  him  to  America  to  be  tried.  Finding  himself  embarassed 
with  his  prisoners,  Capt.  Porter  gave  them  up  the  Charlton, 
and  suffered  them  to  proceed  to  Rio  de  Janeiro,  under  their 
parole.  He  then  took  the  guns  out  of  the  New-Zealander, 
and  mounted  them  in  the  Seringapatam,  by  which  means 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  219 

he  gave  the  latter  ship  an  armament  of  22  guns,  though,  as 
in  the  case  of  the  Greenwich,  her  people  were  barely  suffi- 
cient to  work  her. 

^On  the  25th  of  July,  the  Georgiana  was  despatched  to 
the  United  States,  with  a  full  cargo  of  oil.  In  making  up  a 
crew  for  her,  an  opportunity  was  found  of  sounding  the 
feelings  of  the  men  whose  times  were  nearly  expired,  and 
it  was  ascertained  that  few  wished  to  profit  by  the  circum- 
stance. As  soon  as  the  vessels  separated,  the  Essex,  with 
the  Greenwich,  Seringapatam  and  New-Zealander  in  com- 
pany, shaped  her  course  for  Albermale  Island.  On  the 
morning  of  the  28th,  another  strange  sail  was  discovered ; 
but  as  she  had  a  fresh  breeze,  and  the  frigate  vyas  becalmed, 
she  was  soon  out  of  sight.  When  the  wind  came,  however, 
the  Essex  ran  in  a  direction  to  intercept  the  stranger ;  and 
the  next  morning  he  was  again  seen,  from  the  mast-head, 
standing  across  the  Essex's  bows,  on  a  bow-line.  As  the 
wind  was  light,  recourse  was  now  had  to  the  drags,*  and 
the  ship  got  within  four  miles  of  the  chase,  which  was  evi- 
dently an  enemy's  whaler.  The  stranger  becoming  alarmed, 
got  his  boats  ahead  to  tow,  when  Capt.  Porter  sent  a  gig 
and  whale-boat,  with  a  few  good  marksmen  in  them,  under 
acting  lieutenant  M'Knight,  with  orders  to  take  a  position 
ahead  of  the  chase,  and  to  drive  in  her  boats,  but  on  no 
account  to  attempt  to  board.  This  duty  was  handsomely 
executed,  though  the  boats  had  great  difficulty  in  maintain- 
ing their  position  within  musket-shot,  as  the  enemy  got  two 


*  These  drag's  were  an  invention  of  Capt.  Porter's,  and  were  often  used 
during  the  cruise.  A  triangular  canvass  paddle,  that  had  weights  on  one 
side,  was  connected  with  the  sprit-sail-yard,  and  an  out-rigger  aft.  When 
hauled  upon  aft,  it  forced  the  ship  ahead,  and  a  tricing  line  drew  it  for- 
ward again  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  in  the  manner  of  a  log-chip.  The 
Essex  could  be  urged  through  the  water  two  knots  by  this  process,  though 
it  was  found  to  be  excessively  laborious. 


220  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

guns  on  his  forecastle,  and  kept  up  a  warm  discharge  of 
grape. 

At  4  P.  M.,  the  ships  were  little  more  than  a  league  apart, 
perfectly  becalmed,  and  Capt.  Porter  ordered  the  boats  into 
the  water,  to  carry  the  stranger  by  boarding.  As  the  party 
drew  hear,  the  enemy  commenced  firing,  but,  intimidated 
by  their  steady  and  orderly  approach,  he  soon  lowered  his 
ensign.  The  boats  were  about  to^take  possession,  when 
a  breeze  from  the  eastward  suddenly  striking  the  En- 
glish ship,  she  hauled  up  close  on  a  wind,  hoisted  her 
colours  again,  fired  at  the  gig  and  whale-boat  as  she  passed 
quite  near  them,, and  went  off,  at  a  rapid  rate,  to  the  north- 
ward. The  party  attempted  to  follow,  but  it  was  sunset 
before  the  Essex  got  the  wind,  and,  disliking  to  leave  her 
boats  out  in  the  darkness,  she  was  compelled  to  heave-to,  at 
9,  in  order  to  hoist  them  in.  The  next  morning,  the  chase 
was  out  of  sight. 

This  was  the  first  instance,  since  her  arrival  in  the  Paci- 
fic, in  which  the  Essex  had  failed  in  getting  alongside  of  a 
chase,  that  she  did  not  voluntarily  abandon.  It  produced 
much  mortification,  though  the  escape  of  the  enemy  was 
owing  to  one  of  those  occurrences,  so  common  in  summer,, 
that  leave  one  ship  without  a  breath  of  air,  while  another, 
quite  near  her,4has  a  good  breeze. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  the  ships  went  into  James'  Island 
and  anchored.  Here  Capt.  Porter  made  the  important  dis- 
covery that  a  large  portion  of  his  powder  had  been  dam- 
aged in  doubling  Cape  Horn.  Fortunately,  the  Seringapa- 
tam  could  supply  the  deficiency,  though,  in  doing  so,  that 
ship  was  rendered  nearly  defenceless.  On  the  22d  of  August, 
all  the  vessels  proceeded  to  Banks'  Bay,  where  the  prizes 
were  moored,  and  the  Essex  sailed  on  a  short  cruise,  alone, 
on  the  24th. 

After  passing  among  the  islands,  without  meeting  any 
thing,  a  sail  was  discovered  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  of 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  221 

September,  apparently  lying-to,  a  long  distance  to  the  south- 
ward and  to  windward.     The  Essex  was  immediately  dis- 
guised, by  sending  down  some  of  the  light  yards,  and  the 
ship  kept  turning  to  windward,  under  easy  sail.     At  meri- 
dian, the  vessels  were  so  near  each  other,  that  the  stranger 
was  ascertained  to  be  a  whaler,  in  the  act  of  cutting  in. 
He  was  evidently  drifting  down  fast  on  the  frigate.     At  1 
P.  M.,  when  the  ships  were  about  four  miles  apart,  the 
stranger  cast  oft' from  the  whales,  and  made  all  sail  to  wind- 
ward.    As  it  was  now  evident  that  he  had  taken  the  alarm, 
the  Essex  threw  aside  all  attempts  at  disguise,  and  pursued 
him,  under  every  thing  that  would  draw.    By  4  P.  M.,  the  fri- 
•gate  had  the  stranger  within  reach  of  her  guns,  and  a  few 
shot,  well  thrown,  brought  him  down  under  her  lee.  This  ship 
was  the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  of  301  tons,  12  guns,  and 
31  men;  and  she  proved  to  be  the  vessel  that  had  escaped,  in 
the  manner  previously  related.     Fortunately, -the  prize  had 
a  large  supply  of  excellent  beef,  pork,  bread,  wood,  and 
water,  and  the  Essex  got  out  of  her  an  ample  stock  of  those 
great  necessaries.     On  returning  to  Banks'  Bay  with  her 
prize,  the  ship  shortly  after  was  joined  by  the  Essex  Junior, 
on  her  return  from  Valparaiso.     By  this  arrival,  Capt.  Por- 
ter discovered  that  several  enemy's  vessels  of  force  had 
sailed  in  pursuit  of  him;  and  having,  by  this  time,  captured 
nearly  all  the  English  whalers  of  which  he  could  obtain  in- 
telligence, he  determined  to  proceed  to  the  Marquesas,  in 
order  to  refit,  and  to  make  his  preparations  for  returning  to 
America.     He  was  urged  to  adopt  this  resolution,  also,  by 
understanding  from  Mr.  Downes,  that  the  government  of 
Chili  no  longer  preserved  the  appearance  of  amity  towards 
the  United  States,  but  was  getting  to  be  English  in  its  pre- 
dilections. 

VOL.  II.— 19 


222  If  AVAL  HISTORF. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


ON  the  23d  of  October,  the  group  of  the  Marquesas  was 
made  from  the  mast-head  of  the  Essex,  and  after  passing 
among  the  islands  for  a  few  days,  Capt.  Porter  took  his 
ships  into  a  fine  bay  of  Nooaheevah,  where  he  anchored. 
Here  he  was  soon  after  joined  by  the  Essex  Junior,  which 
vessel  had  parted  company  to  cruise,  when  he  believed  him- 
self sufficiently  secure,  to  commence  fi  regular  overhaul- 
ing of  the  different  ships. 

The  situation  of  the  Essex  was  sufficiently  remarkable, 
at  this  moment,  to  merit  a  brief  notice.  She  had  been  the 
first  American  to  carry  the  pennant  of  a  man-of-war  round 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  now  she  had  been  the  first  to 
bring  it  into  this  distant  ocean.  More  than  ten  thousand 
miles  from  home,  without  colonies,  stations,  or  even  a  real- 
ly friendly  port  to  repair  to,  short  of  stores,  without  a  con- 
sort, and  otherwise  in  possession  of  none  of  the  required 
means  of  subsistence  and  efficiency,  she  had  boldly  steered 
into  this  distant  region,  where  she  had  found  all  that  she 
required,  through  her  own  activity ;  and  having  swept  the 
seas  of  her  enemies,  she  had  now  retired  to  these  little  fre- 
quented islands  to  refit,  with  the  security  of  a  ship  at  home. 
It  is  due  to  the  officer,  who  so  promptly  adopted,  and  so  suc- 
cessfully executed  this  plan,  to  add,  that  his  enterprise,  self- 
reliance  and  skill,  indicated  a  man  of  bold  and  masculine 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  223 

conception,  of  great  resources,  and  of  a  high  degree  of 
moral  courage;  qualities  that  are  indispensable  in  forming 
a  naval  captain. 

In  the  way  of  service  to  the  public,  perhaps  the  greatest 
performed  by  the  Essex,  was  in  protecting  the  American 
ships  in  the  Pacific,  nearly  all  of  which  would  probably 
have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  but  for  her  ap- 
pearance in  that  ocean.  But  the  positive  injury  done  the 
English  commerce*  was  far  from  trifling.  The  Essex  had 
now  captured  about  4000  tons  of  its  shipping,  made  near 
400  prisoners,  and  for  the  moment,  had  literally  destroyed 
its  fisheries  in  this  part  of  the  world.  In  October,  1812, 
she  had  sailed  from  America  alone,  with  six  months'  pro- 
visions, and  the  usual  stores  in  her;  and  in  October,  1813, 
she  was  lying,  in  perfect  security,  at  an  island  of  the  Pa- 
cific, with  a  respectable  consort,  surrounded  by  prizes,  and 
in  possession  of  all  the  means  that  were  necessary  to  ren- 
der a  frigate  of  her  class  efficient.  Throughout  the  whole 
of  these  movements,  we  see  a  constant  tendency  to  distress 
the  enemy,  and  to  maintain  the  character  of  the  ship,  as  an 
active,  well-organized,  and  high-toned  man-of-war. 

It  is  an  incident  worthy  of  being  mentioned,  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  unusual  cruise,  that  when  the  Essex  stood  into 
the  land,  in  first  approaching  the  Marquesas,  a  boat  came 
off  with  three  white  men  in  her,  one  of  whom  proved  to  be 
Mr.  John  Maury,  a  midshipman  of  the  navy,  who  had  been 
left  by  the  master  of  an  American  trader,  himself  a  lieute- 
nant in  the  service,  to  gather  sandal-wood,  while  the  ship 
was  gone  to  China.  As  it  was  supposed  the  war  would  pre- 
vent the  return  of  his  ship,  Mr.  Maury  and  his  party  were 
received  on  board  the  frigate.* 

*  The  officer  in  command  of  the  merchant-man,  was  Mr.  Lewis, 
then  a  lieutenant,  and  subsequently,  a  master  and  commander.  Mr. 
Maury  was  promoted  not  long  after,  and  lost  his  life  by  yellow  fever, 


224  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

The  island  of  Nooaheevah,  on  which  Capt.  Porter  landed 
his  stores,  was  intersected  by  valleys,  and  different  tribes 
possessed  them,  forming  distinct  communities,  which  not 
unfrequently  waged  war  on  each  other,  converting  this  little 
and  retired  fragment  of  the  earth  into  an  epitome  of  the 
passions  and  struggles  of  the  world  beyond  it.  Inconse- 
quence of  his  intimate  connexion  with  the  inhabitants  of  the 
valley  in  which  he  was  accidentally  thrown,  Capt.  Porter 
was  compelled  to  join  in  these  hostilities,  the  assailants  of 
his  allies  beginning  to  treat  him  as  an  enemy.  After  some 
fruitless  negotiating,  a  pariy  was  sent  against  the  hostile 
tribe,  and  several  conflicts  occurred,  in  which  the  armed 
seamen  and  marines  prevailed,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
though  not  without  a  sharp  resistance.  This  success  qui- 
eted the  island;  and  during  the  remainder  of  his  stay,  Capt. 
Porter  appears  to  have  been  unmolested. 

It  has  been  seen,  that  the  Essex  reached  the  Marquesas 
at  the  close  of  October,  and  in  the  early  part  of  December 
she  was  again  ready  for  sea.  In  the  course  of  November, 
the  New-Zealander  was  filled  with  oil,  from  the  other  prizes, 
and  despatched  for  America,  under  the  charge  of  a  mas- 
ter's mate.*  Shortly  aftei',  a  fort  was  constructed  on  a 
small  conical  hill,  near  the  water,  when  the  Seringapatarn, 
Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  and  Greenwich,  were  warped  close 
in,  and  moored  under  its  guns.  The  command  of  this  fort 
was  given  to  Lieut.  John  M.  Gamble,  of  the  marines,  a  spi- 
rited and  intelligent  young  officer;  and  Messrs.  Feltus  and 
Clapp,  two  of  the  midshipmen,  with  twenty-one  men,  were 
put  under  his  orders,  having  volunteered  to  remain  on  the 
island  during  the  contemplated  cruise  of  the  Essex.  This 

while  first  lieutenant  of  a  vessel  on  the  West  India  station.     Both  these 
gentlemen  were  much  respected  in  the  service. 

*  Both  the  Georg-iuna  and  New-Zealander  were  recaptured  on  the  Ame- 
rican coast. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  225 

arrangement  was  made  to  secure  the  means  of  future  re- 
pairs, as  it  was  now  believed  that  no  more  whalers  were  to 
be  found,  and  the  Essex  was  going  to  sea,  in  the  expecta- 
tion of  meeting  one  of  the  frigates  that  it  was  known  had 
been  sent  into  the  Pacific,  in  pursuit  of  her. 

The  Essex,  and  Essex  Junior,  quitted  the  harbour  of 
Nooaheevah,  on  the  12th  of  December,  1813,  bound  for  the 
coast  of  South  America,  which  was  made  early  in  January. 
After  watering  at  San  Maria,  and  looking  into  Conception, 
the  ships  proceeded  to  Valparaiso.  Up  to  this  time,  not  a 
dollar  had  been  drawn  for,  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  fri- 
gate. The  enemy  had  furnished  provisions,  sails,  cordage, 
medicines,  guns,  anchors,  cables,  and  slops.  A  considera- 
ble amount  of  pay  had  even  been  given  to  the  officers  and 
men,  by  means  of  the  money  taken  in  the  Nocton.  Thus 
far,  the  cruise  had  been  singularly  useful  and  fortunate,  af- 
fording an  instance  of  the  perfection  of  naval  warfare,  in 
all  that  relates  to  distressing  an  enemy,  with  the  least  pos- 
sible charge  to  the  assailants;  and  it  remained  only  to  ter- 
minate it  with  a  victory,  over  a  ship  of  equal  force,  to 
render  it  brilliant.  It  is,  perhaps,  a  higher  eulogium  on  the 
officers  and  crew  of  this  memorable  little  frigate  to  add, 
that  while  her  good  fortune,  appeared  at  last  to  desert  her, 
they  gave  this  character  to  their  enterprise,  by  the  manner 
in  which  they  struggled  with  adversity. 

After  the  arrival  at  Valparaiso,  it  was  found  that  the 
feelings  of  the  Chilian  government  had  taken  an  entirely 
new  direction,  as  had  been  reported  by  Mr.  Downes,  fa- 
vouring on  all  occasions  the  interests  of  the  English,  in 
preference  to  those  of  the -Americans.  Without  paying 
much  regard  to  this  circumstance,  however,  Capt.  Porter 
determined  to  remain  in,  or  off,  the  port,  in  waiting  for  the 
Phoebe  36,  Capt.  Hillyar,  one  of  the  ships  sent  out  in  quest 
of  him,  under  the  impression  that  her  commander  would 
not  fail,  sooner  or  later,  to  seek  him  at  that  place.  There 

19* 


226  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

was  also  the  prospect  of  intercepting  such  of  the  English 
traders,  as  might  happen  to  touch  fit  the  port. 

The  Phcebe  arrived  as  was  expected,  but  instead  of 
coming  alone,  she  had  the  Cherub  20,  Capt.  Tucker,  in  com- 
pany. When  these  ships  hove  in  sight,  the  Essex  Junior 
was  cruising  off  the  harbour,  and  she  came  in  and  anchored. 
As  the  Phcebe  alone  was  a  vessel  of  a  heavier  rate  than  the 
Essex,  this  addition  to  her  force,  put  a  conflict  between  the 
four  ships  quite  out  of  the  question.  Capt.  Porter,  who  had 
every  opportunity  of  observing  the  armaments  of  the  two 
English  vessels,  states,  in  his  official  communications  to  the 
department,  that  the  Phrebe  mounted  30  long  eighteens,  16 
thirty-two  pound  carronades,  with  1  howitzer,  and  6  threes, 
in  her  tops.  This  was  a  forced  equipment  for  a  ship  of  her 
rate,  but  she  had  probably  taken  in  extra  guns,  with  a  view 
"to  meet  the  Essex.*  Her  crew  is  said  to  have  consisted  of 
320  souls.  The  Cherub  20,  mounted  18  thirty-two  pound 
carronades  below,  with  8  twenty-four  pound  carronades 
and  2  long  nines  above,  making  a  total  of  28  guns,  and  her 
crew  mustered  180  men  and  boys.  In  consequence  of  the 
number  of  prizes  that  had  been  manned,  some  deaths  that 
had  occurred,  and  the  people  placed  in  the  Essex  Junior, 
the  American  frigate  could  muster  but  255  souls,  notwith- 

*  The  regular  armament  of  an  English  36,  would  have  been  26  long 
eighteens  below,  16  thirty -two  pound  carronades  and  2  chase  guns  above,  or 
44  guns  in  all.  It  would  seem  that  the  Phcebe  had  added  two  eighteens, 
making  46.  The  regular  armament  of  a  32,  was  26  long  twelves  below, 
16  thirty -two  pound  carronades  and  2  chase  guns  above.  Some  thirjy- 
twos,  however,  mount  but  40  guns,  the  difference  in  the  rate  depending1 
more  on  the  metal  than  on  the  number  of  the  guns.  As  a  rule,  the  long 
twelve  is  thought  to  be  the  equivalent  of  a  thirty-two  pound  carronade, 
though  there  are  circumstances  in  which  each  is  preferable  to  the  other. 
The  Essex  had  in  her,  on  this  occasion,  40  thirty-two  pound  carronades, 
and  6  long  twelves.  Even  with  this  change,  the  Phcebe  was  probably  her 
superior,  under  the  ordinary  chances  of  naval  warfare,  in  the  proportion 
of  about  four  to  three. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  227 

standing  the  enlistments  she  had  made  from  the  whalers. 
The  force  of  the  Essex  Junior  was  too  inconsiderable  to  be 
relied  on,  in  an  action  against  frigate-built  ships  of  a  metal 
as  heavy  as  that  of  the  enemy.  She  mounted  10  eighteen 
pound  carronades  and  10  short  sixes,  with  a  ^rew  of  60 
souls.  Her  guns  would  have  been  of  little  service  in  a 
frigate  action. 

As  the  Phcebe  came  in,  the  wind  was  light,  and  she 
passed  quite  near  the  Essex,  with  her  people  at  quarters. 
Capt.  Hillyar  hailed,  and  inquired  after  the  health  of  Capt. 
Porter.  After  making  the  usual  reply,  the  latter  informed 
the  English  officer  that  if  the  vessels  got  foul,  much  confu- 
sion would  ensue,  and  that  he  could  not  be  answerable  for 
the  consequences.  Capt.  Hillyar  now  observed  that  he  did 
not  meditate  any  attack,  though  the  manner  in  which  this 
was  uttered,  does  not  appear  to  have  quieted  the  suspicions 
of  the  American  officers.  While  the  two  vessels  and  their 
crews  were  in  this  novel  position,  the  Phcebe  was  taken 
suddenly  aback,  and  her  bows  payed  off  directly  upon  the 
Essex.  Capt.  Porter  immediately  called  away  his  boarders, 
and  for  a  few  minutes  there  was  every  appearance  of  a 
combat  in  a  neutral  port. 

A  great  deal  of  confusion  is  said  to  have  existed  on  board 
the  Phcebe,  and  her  commander  was  earnest  in  his  protes- 
tations of  an  intention  not  to  have  recourse  to  hostilities, 
while  he  handled  his  yards  in  a  way  to  get  a  stern  board 
on  his  ship.  As  she  fell  off,  the  jib-boom  of  the  Phoebe 
passed  over  the  Essex's  deck,  and  she  lay,  for  a  short  time, 
with  her  bows  exposed  to  the  whole  broadside  of  the 
American  frigate,  and  her  stern  to  that  of  the  Essex  Junior. 
Capt.  Porter  declining  to  profit  by  his  advantage,  the  Phrebe 
was  enabled  to  get  out  ;of  her  awkward  situation,  there 
.being  no  doubt  that  she  had  lain  entirely  at  the  mercy  of 
her  enemies.  There  can  be  little  question  that  this  extra- 


228  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

ordinary  occurrence  would  have  fully  justified  the  Ameri- 
can ship  in  having  recourse  to  her  means  of  defence.* 

The  English  ships,  having  obtained  some  supplies,  went 
outside,  and  cruised  off  Valparaiso  for  six  weeks.     During 
this  time,  the  Essex  made  several  attempts  to  engage  the 
Phoebe  alone,  sometimes  by  bringing  her  to  action  with  the 
Essex  Junior  in  company,  and  at  others,  by  bringing  her  to 
action  singly,  having  the  crew  of  the  Essex  Junior  on  board 
the  frigate.     Capt.  Porter  ascertained  to  his  satisfaction, 
that  he  could  easily  outsail  either  of  the  enemy's  vessels, 
but  his  object  was  not  so  much  to  escape,  as  to  capture  the 
Phoebe,  which  he  had  reason  to  think  he  might  do,  could  he 
bring  her  to  close  action,  without  her  consort's  interference. 
On  the  27th  of  February,  the  Cherub  being  nearly  a  league 
dead  to  leeward  of  her,  the  Phoebe  ran  close  in,  hove-to  off 
the  port,  hoisted  a  motto  flag,  and  fired  a  gun  to  windward, 
when  the  Essex  immediately  weighed  and  stood  out  of  the 
harbour,  and  answered  the  weather  gun  of  the  enemy.     On 
this  occasion,  the  ships  got  within  gun  shot  of  each  other, 
and  the  American  frigate  opened  her  fire,  when  the  Phoebe 
ran  down  and  joined  her  consort.     This  conduct  excited  a 
good  deal  of  feeling  among  the  officers  of  the  Essex,  who 
rightly  judged  that  the  challenge   should  not   have  been 
given,  if  it  were  not  the  intention  of  the  enemy  to  engage 
singly.     Taking  all  the  circumstances  in  connexion,  there 
can  be  little  question  that  Capt.  Hillyar  had  been  positively 
instructed  not  to  fight  the  Essex  alone,  if  he  could  possibly 
avoid  it.     As  he  bore  the  character  of  a  good  and  brave 
officer,  it  is  not  easy  to  find  any  other  reasonable  solution 
of  the  course  he  pursued.     His  challenge  off  the  port,  was 
probably  intended  as  a  ruse,  de  guerre,  to  get  the  Essex  into 

*  From  all  that  past,  then  and  subsequently,  the  officers  of  the  Essex 
appear  to  have  been  generally  persuaded  that  Capt.  Hillyar  had  positive 
orders  to  capture  the  American  ship,  without  regard  to  the  neutrality  of 
the  South  American  ports. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  229 

his  power;  for  demonstrations  of  this  nature  are  not  subject 
to  the  severe  laws  which  regulate  more  precise  defiances 
to  combat.*  ' 

Having  heard  that  several  other  cruisers  of  the  enemy 
might  soon  be  expected,  Capt.  Porter  now  determined  to 
go  to  sea,  on  the  first  good  occasion,  and  by  leading  the 
Phoebe  and  Cherub  off  the  coast,  to  allow  the  Essex  Ju- 
nior to  follow.  This  plan  was  formed  on  the  27th  of 
March,  and  the  very  next  day  the  wind  came  on  to  blow 
fresh  from  the  southward,  when  the  Essex  parted  her  lar- 
board bower,  and  dragged  the  other  anchor  directly  out  to 
sea.  The  harbour  of  Valparaiso  opens  to  the  northward, 
being  formed  by  a  head-land  on  its  western  side,  and  a 
cove  that  makes  to  the  southward  within  it;  the  main 
coast  sweeping  round  to  the  north  and  east  again,  affording 
the  necessary  protection.  On  the  28th  of  March,  when  the 
accident  just  mentioned  occurred,  the  enemy's  ships  were 
at  no  great  distance  off  the  point,  though  far  enough  to 
allow  the  Essex  to  fetch  past  to  windward  of  them,  by 
hugging  the  land.  The  Point  of  Angels,  however,  is  an  ex- 
ceedingly dangerous  bluff  to  double,  and  most  ships  deem 
it  prudent  to  reef,  before  going  round  it,  on  account  of  the 
liability  to  sudden  and  violent  squalls. 

As  there  was  no  time  to  lose,  sail  was  got  on  the  Essex, 
when,  on  opening  the  enemy,  Capt.  Porter  took  in  his  top- 

*  In  consequence  of  this  affair,  some,  explanations  passed  between  the 
ships,  when  the  English  officers  alleged  that  the  gun  to  windward  had 
been  fired  as  a  signal  to  the  Cherub.  This  is  quite  possible,  but  under 
the  peculiar  circumstances,  little  doubt  exists  that  Capt.  Hillyar  acted 
under  precise  instructions  not  to  engage  the  Essex  singly.  No  stress  ought 
to  be  laid  on  the  different  challenges  that  passed  between  the  American 
and  English  ships,  as  they  might  all  be  satisfactorily  explained,  perhaps; 
but  no  incident  of  the  war  so  unanswerably  shows  the  character  obtained 
by  the  American  navy,  at  this  time,  as  the  fact  that  a  36  declined  meeting 
a  32,  in  single  combat.  Two  years  earlier,  the  Cherub  would  probably 
have  sought  an  action  with  the  Essex. 


230  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

gallant-sails,  hauled  close  by  the  wind,  and  made  an  attempt 
to  pass  out,  by  keeping  his  weatherly  position.  Every 
thing  looked  promising  for  a  short  time ;  and  there  is  little 
question  that  the  ship  would  have  gone  clear,  but,  in  dou- 
bling the  head-land,  a  squall  carried  away  the  main-top- 
mast, throwing  several  men  into  the  sea,  all  of  whom  were 
drowned.  Nothing  remained,  of  course,  but  to  endeavour 
to  regain  the  port,  or  to  fight  both  the  enemy's  ships,  under 
the  additional  disadvantage  of  being  already  crippled. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  beat  up  to  the  common  anchor- 
age, in  his  present  condition,  in  time  to  avoid  the  enemy, 
Capt.  Porter  stood  across  the  entrance  of  the  harbour,  to 
its  north-eastern  side,  where  he  let  go  an  anchor,  about 
three  miles  from  the  town,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  Cas- 
tello  Viego,  which,  however,  was  concealed  by  a  bluff, 
half  a  mile  from  a  detached  battery  of  one  twenty-four- 
pound  gun,  and  within  pistol  shot  of  the  shore.  Notwith- 
standing this  position,  the  enemy  continued  to  approach, 
and  it  soon  became  evident,  by  the  motto  flags  and  jacks 
he  set,  that  it  was  his  serious  intention  to  engage.  The 
Essex,  in  consequence,  cleared  for  action,  and  attempted  to 
get  a  spring  on  her  cable,  but  had  not  succeeded  in  effect- 
ing this  important  object,  when  the  Phoebe,  having  obtained 
an  advantageous  position,  nearly  astern,  about  4  P.  M., 
opened  her  fire,  at  long  shot.  At  the  same  time,  the  Cherub 
commenced  the  action  on  the  starboard  bow.  The  fire  of 
the  Phoebe,  from  the  double  advantage  she  possessed  in  her 
long  guns  and  her  station,  became  very  destructive,  as  scarce 
a  gun  from  the  Essex  could  touch  her.  The  Cherub,  how- 
ever, was  soon  driven  off,  when  she  ran  down  to  leeward, 
and  engaged  from  a  position  near  that  taken  by  the  Phcebe. 
Three  long  twelves  were  got  out  aft,  and  they  played  with 
so  much  effect  on  the  enemy,  that  at  the  end  of  half  an 
hour,  both  his  ships  hauled  off  the  land  to  repair  damages. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  231 

This  important  fact,  which  is  affirmed  by  the  Americans,  is 
sufficiently  corroborated  by  the  accounts  of  the  enemy.* 

During  this  first  attack,  the  Essex,  through  the  great  ex» 
ertions  of  the  master  and  boatswain,  had  succeeded  in  get- 
ting springs  on  the  cable  no  less  than  three  different  times, 
but  before  the  ship's  broadside  could  be  sprung  to  bear, 
they  were  as  often  shot  away.  The  ship  also  received  a 
great  deal  of  injury,  and  several  men  had  been  killed  and 
wounded.  Notwithstanding  all  the  disastrous  circumstances 
•  under  which  they  engaged,  and  the  superior  force  opposed 
;  to  them,  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Essex  were  animated 
by  the  best  spirit,  and  it  was  not  possible  for  efforts  to  be 
more  coolly  made,  or  better  directed. 

The  enemy  was  not  long  in  making  his  repairs,  and  both 
ships  next  took  a  position  on  the  starboard  quarter  of  the 
Essex,  where  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  the  latter  vessel  to 
bring  a  single  gun  to  bear  upon  him,  as  he  was  too  distant 
to  be  reached  by  carronades.  His  fire  was  very  galling, 
and  it  left  no  alternative  to  Capt.  Porter,  between  submis- 
sion, and  running  down  to  assail  him.  He  gallantly  decided 
on  the  latter.  But,  by  this  time,  the  Essex  had  received  many 
serious  injuries,  in  addition  to  the  loss  of  her  top-mast.  Her 
top-sail  sheets,  top-sail  halyards,  jib  and  fore-topmast-stay- 
sail halyards  had  all  been  shot  away.  The  only  sail  that 
could  be  got  upon  the  ship  to  make  her  head  pay  off  was 
the  flying  jib,  which  was  hoisted,  when  the  cable  was  cut, 
and  the  vessel  edged  away,  with  the  intention  of  laying  the 
Phoebe  aboard. 

The  fore-topsail  and  fore-sail  were  now  let  fall,  though, 
for  want  of  tacks  and  sheets,  they  were  nearly  use- 
less. Still  the  Essex  drove  down  on  her  assailants,  clos- 
ing near  enough  to  open  with  her  carronades.  For  a 


*  It  is  due  to  the  English  commander  to  say,  that  he  gave  a  very  frank 
and  fair  account  of  the  action. 


232  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

few  minutes,  the  firing  on  both  sides  was  tremendous,  the 
people  of  the  Essex  proving  their  discipline  and  gallantry, 
at  that  trying  moment,  in  a  way  to  justify  all  the  high  ex- 
pectations that  had  been  formed  of  them,  though  their 
decks  were  already  strewed  with  killed,  anr!  the  cockpit 
was  crowded  with  the  wounded.  This  work  proved  too  hot 
for  the  Cherub,  which  hauled  off  a  second  time,  nor  did  she 
come  near  enough  to  use  her  carronades  again,  during  the 
remainder  of  the  action,  keeping  up  a  distant  fire  with  her 
long  guns. 

The  Phrebe  discovered  no  disposition  to  throw  away  the 
immense  advantage  she  possessed,  in  her  long  eighteens; 
and  when  she  found  the  Essex's  fire  becoming  warm,  she 
kept  edging  away,  throwing  her  shot  at  the  same  time,  with 
fatal  effect,  cutting  down  the  people  of  her  antagonist, 
ajmost  with  impunity  to  herself.  By  this  time,  many  of  the 
guns  of  the  American  ship  were  disabled  by  shot,  and  the 
crews  of  several  had  been  swept  away.  One  particular 
gun  was  a  scene  of  carnage,  that  is  seldom  witnessed  in  a 
naval  combat,  no  less  than  fifteen  men,  or  three  entire 
crews  falling  at  it,  in  the  course  of  the  action;  its  captain* 
alone,  escaped  with  a  slight  wound. 

This  scene  of  almost  unresisting  carnage  had  now  lasted 
near  two  hours,  and,  finding  it  impossible  to  close  with  his 
adversary,  who  chose  his  distance  at  pleasure,  Capt.  Porter 
felt  the  necessity  of  taking  some  prompt  measure,  if  he 
would  prevent  the  enemy  from   getting  possession  of  his    ; 
ship.     The  wind  had  got  more  to  the  westward,  and  he 
saw  a  hope  of  running  her  ashore,  at  a  spot  where  he  might 
land  his  people,  and  set  her  on  fire.     For  a  few  minutes, 
every  thing  appeared  to  favour  this  design,  and  the  Essex 
had  drifted  within  musket  shot  of  the  beach,  when  the  wind 
suddenly  shifted  from  the  land,  paying  the  ship's  head  broad 
off,  in  a  way  to  leave  her  exposed  to  a  dreadful  raking  fire. 
Still,  as  she  was  again  closing  with  the  Phrebe,  Capt.  Por- 


NAVAL  BISTORT.  233 

ter  indulged  a  hope  of  finally  laying  that  ship  aboard.  At 
this  moment,  Lieut.  Com.  Downes  came  along  side  the 
Essex,  in  order  to  receive  the  orders  of  his  commanding  of- 
ficer, having  pulled  through  all  the  fire,  in  order  to  effect 
this  object.  He  could  be  of  no  use,  for  the  enemy  again 
put  his  helm  up,  and  kept  away,  when  Mr.  Dowries,  after 
remaining  in  the  Essex  ten  minutes,  was  directed  to  return 
to  his  own  ship,  and  to  make  preparations  to  defend,  or,  at 
need,  to  destroy  her.  On  going  away,  he  carried  off  seve- 
ral of  the  Essex's  wounded,  leaving  three  of  his  own  men 
behind  him,  in  order  to  make  room  in  the  boat. 

The  slaughter  in  the  Essex  having  got  to  be  horrible,  the 
enemy  firing  with  deliberation,  and  hulling  her  at  almost 
every  shot,  Capt.  Porter,  as  a  last  resort,  ordered  a  hawser  to 
be  bent  to  the  sheet  anchor,  and  the  latter  let  go,  in  order  to 
bring  the  head  of  the  ship  round.  This  effected  the  object, 
and  once  more  the  Americans  got  their  broadside  to  bear, 
remaining  stationary  themselves,  while  their  enemy,  a  good 
deal  crippled,  was  drifting  slowly  to  leeward.  Even  in 
those  desperate  circumstances,  a  ray  of  hope  gleamed 
through  this  little  advantage,  and  Capt.  Porter  was  begin- 
ning to  believe  that  the  Phrebe  would  drift  out  of  gun-shot, 
before  she  discovered  his  expedient,  when  the  hawser  part- 
ed with  the  strain. 

There  was  no  longer  any  chance  of  saving  the  ship.  To 
add  to  her  distress,  she  was  on  fire,  the  flames  coming  up 
both  the  main  and  the  forward  hatchways ;  and,  for  a  few 
minutes,  it  was  thought  she  must  consume.  An  explosion  of 
powder  also  occurred  below,  to  add  to  the  horrors  of  the 
scene,  and  Capt.  Porter  told  his  people  that,  in  preference 
to  being  blown  up,  all  who  chose  to  incur  the  risk,  might 
make  the  attempt  to  reach  the  shore  by  swimming.  Many 
availed  themselves  of  the  permission,  and  some  succeeded 
in  effecting  their  escape.  Others  perished,  while  a  few,  af- 
ter drifting  about  on  bits  of  spars,  were  picked  up  by  the 

VOL.  II.— 20 


234  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

boats  of  the  enemy.  Much  the  greater  part  of  the  crew, 
however,  remained  in  the  ship,  and  they  set  about  an  at- 
tempt to  extinguish  the  flames;  the  shot  of  the  enemy  com- 
mitting its  havoc  the  whole  time.  Fortunately,  the  fire  was 
got  under,  when  the  few  brave  men  who  were  left,  went 
again  to  the  long  guns. 

The  moment  had  now  arrived,  when  Capt.  Porter  was  to 
decide  between  submission,  or  the  destruction  of  the  remain- 
der of  his  people.  In  the  midst  of  this  scene  of  slaughter, 
he  had  himself  been  untouched,  and  it  would  seem  that  he 
felt  himself  called  on  to  resist,  as  long  as  his  own  strength 
allowed.  But  his  remaining  people  entreated  him  to  re- 
member his  wounded,  and  he  at  last  consented  to  summon 
his  officers.  Only  one,  Act.  Lieut.  M'Knight,  could  join  him 
on  the  quarter-deck !  The  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Wilmer, 
had  been  knocked  overboard  by  a  splinter,  and  drowned, 
while  getting  the  sheet  anchor  from  the  bows ;  Act.  Lieut. 
Cowell,  the  next  in  rank,  was  mortally  wounded;  Act.  Lieut. 
Odenheimer  had  just  been  knocked  overboard  from  the 
quarter,  and  did  not  regain  the  vessel  for  several  minutes- 
The  reports  of  the  state  of  the  ship  were  fearful.  A  large 
portion  of  the  guns  were  disabled,  even  had  there  been 
men  left  to  fight  them.  The  berth-deck,  steerage,  ward- 
room, and  cockpit,  were  full  of  wounded ;  and  the  latter 
were  even  killed  by  shot,  while  under  the  surgeon's  hands. 
The  carpenter  was  sent  for,  and  he  stated  that  of  his  crew, 
he  alone  could  perform  any  duty.  He  had  been  over  the 
side  to  stop  shot-holes,  when  his  slings  had  been  cut  away, 
and  he  narrowly  escaped  drowning.  In  short,  seventy-five 
men,  officers  included,  were  all  that  remained  for  duty;  and 
the  enemy,  in  perfectly  smooth  water,  was  firing  his  long 
eighteens,  at  a  nearly  unresisting  ship,  with  as  much  pre- 
cision as  he  could  have  discharged  them  at  a  target.  It 
had  become  an  imperative  duty  to  strike,  and  the  colours 
were -accordingly  hauled  down,  after  one  of  the  most  re- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  235 

markable  combats  that  is  to  be  found  in  the  history  of  naval 
warfare. 

In  this  bloody  contest,  the  Essex  had  58  men  killed,  in- 
cluding those  who  soon  died  of  their  hurts,  and  66  wounded, 
making  a  total  of  124,  or  nearly  half  of  all  who  were  on 
board  at  the  commencement  of  the  action.  Of  the  missing 
there  were  31,  most  of  whom  were  probably  drowned,  either 
in  attempting  to  swim  ashore,  when  the  ship  was  on  fire,  or 
by  being  knocked  overboard  by  splinters,  or  pieces  of  the 
rigging.  Including  the  missing,  the  entire  loss  was  152,  out 
of  255. 

The  Essex,  with  a  very  trifling  exception  while  closing, 
fought  this  battle  with  her  six  long  twelves,  opposed  by  fif- 
teen long  eighteens  in  broadside,  the  long  guns  of  the  Che- 
rub, and,  a  good  deal  of  the  time,  or  while  they  lay  on  her 
quarter,  by  the  carronades  of  both  the  enemy's  ships.  Capt. 
Hillyar's  published  official  letter  makes  the  loss  of  the 
Phrebe,  4  killed  and  7  wounded ;  that  of  the  Cherub,  1 
killed,  and  3  wounded.  There  is  no  apparent  reason  for 
distrusting  this  account,  as  Capt.  Hillyar's  official  letter 
was  singularly  modest  and  just.  Capt.  Tucker,  of  the 
Cherub,  was  wounded,  and  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Phrebe 
was  killed.  The  English  ships  were  cut  up  more  than  could 
have,  been  expected  under  the  circumstances,  the  latter 
having  received  no  less  than  eighteen  twelve-pound  shot 
below  the  water-line.  It  would  seem  that  the  smoothness 
of  the  water  rendered  the  fire  very  certain,  on  both  sides, 
and  it  is  only  to  be  regretted  that  the  Essex  could  not  have 
engaged  under  her  three  top-sails,  from  the  commencement. 
The  engagement  lasted  nearly  two  hours  and  a  half,  the 
long  guns  of  the  Essex,  it  is  said,  having  been  fired  no  less 
than  seventy-five  times,  each,  in  broadside.  The  enemy 
must  have  thrown,  agreeably  to  the  statements  made  at  the 
time,  not  less  than  700  eighteen-pound  shot,  at  the  Essex. 

The  battle  was  witnessed  by  thousands  from  the  shore ; 


236  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

and  so  near  were  all  the  ships  to  the  land,  that,  at  one  time, 
•many  of  the  Phoebe's  eighteen-pound  shot  struck  the  beach. 
This  fact  appears  to  be  well  authenticated,  and,  of  itself,  it 
settles  the  question  of  a  violation  of  the  neutrality  of  Chili ; 
since  even  they  who  maintain  the  doctrine  that  jurisdiction 
does  not  properly  extend  three  leagues  to  sea,  substitute  the 
greatest  range  of  a  shot,  or  a  shell,  in  their  place.  During  the 
action,  Mr.  Poinsett,  the  American  consul,  repaired  to  the 
governor's,  and  asked  the  protection  of  the  batteries  in  be- 
half of  the  Essex.  He  received  the  evasive  answer,  that, 
should  the  ship  succeed  in  reaching  the  ordinary  anchorage, 
an  officer  would  be  sent  to  the  British  commander,  request- 
ing him  to  cease  his  fire.  The  governor,  however,  declined 
resorting  to  force,  under  any  circumstances.  This  conduct 
left  no  doubt  of  a  collusion  between  the  English  officers  and 
the  local  authorities,  and  Mr.  Poinsett  took  the  first  occa- 
sion to  quit  the  country. 

In  the  mode  in  which  he  fought  his  ship,  though  it  was 
much  criticised  at  the  time,  Capt.  Hillyar  discovered  sea- 
manship and  a  strict  attention  to  his  duty;  though  his  situa- 
tion must  have  been  in  the  last  degree  painful,  while  com- 
pelled to  avoid  meeting  the  Essex  singly,  under  circumstances 
that  admit  of  no  other  construction  than  an  obedience  to  the 
most  rigid  orders. 

Capt.  Porter  now  entered  into  an  arrangement  with  Capt. 
Hillyar,  under  the  provisions  of  which,  the  Essex  Junior  was 
converted  into  a  cartel,  and  a  passport  was  given,  by  means 
of  which  all  the  survivors  of  the  Essex  came  home.  From 
this  arrangement,  however,  Act.  Lieut.  M'Knight,  Mr. 
Adams,  the  chaplain,  and  Mr.  Lyman,  a  master's  mate, 
were  exempted  ;  these  three  gentlemen,  and  eleven  seamen, 
being  exchanged  on  the  spot,  for  a  part  of  the  people  of  the 
Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  who  were  then  prisoners  in  the 
Essex  Junior.  Mr.  M'Knight  and  Mr.  Lyman  went  round 
to  Rio  de  Janeiro,  in  the  Phoebe,  in  order  to  give  some 


JTAVAL  HISTORY.  237 

testimony  in  behalf  of  the  captors.    We  shall  have  occasion 
to  advert  to  the  two  last  mentioned  gentlemen  hereafter. 

The  Essex  Junior  left  Valparaiso  shortly  after  this  ar- 
rangement, encountering  no  difficulty  in  doubling  the  Horn. 
She  was  brought-to,  off  New-York,  by  the  Saturn  razee, 
Capt.  Nash.  This  officer,  at  first,  questioned  the  authority 
of  Capt.  Hillyar  to  grant  the  passport,  under  which  the  Essex 
Junior  was  sailing,  and  he  directed  that  ship  to  lie  by  him 
during  the  night.  After  some  communications,  the  next 
morning,  when  thirty  miles  from  the  beach,  Capt.  Porter  put 
off  in  a  whale-boat,  and,  though  chased,  by  pulling  vigorous- 
ly for  the  land,  he  got  ashore  on  Long  Island,  escaping  in  a 
fog.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  to  have  been  the  inten- 
tion of  Capt.  Nash  seriously  to  detain  the  Essex  Junior.  He 
probably  distrusted  some  artifice,  as  he  permitted  the  ship 
to  proceed,  after  again  examining  her  papers. 

Thus  terminated  this  enterprising  and  singular  cruise,  its 
end  proving  as  disastrous  as  its  commencement  had  been 
fortunate,  though  it  was,  at  all  times,  highly  creditable  to  the 
spirit,  resources,  self-reliance  and  zeal  of  those  engaged  in 
it.  Before  quitting  the  subject,  however,  it  remains  to  give 
a  brief  account  of  the  fortunes  of  the  officers  and  men  left 
at  Nooaheevah,  with  the  three  prizes,  the  Greenwich,  the 
Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  and  the  Seringapatam,  under  the 
orders  of  Lieut.  Gamble  of  the  marines. 

The  Essex  had  no  sooner  disappeared  than  the  savages 
began  to  pilfer,  and  to  betray  a  turbulent  disposition.  Mr. 
Gamble  was  compelled  to  land  a  party,  and  to  bring  the 
natives  to  terms  by  a  show  of  force.  Fortunately,  this  ob- 
ject was  effected,  without  firing  a  musket.  In  February, 
one  of  the  small  party  left  was  drowned,  reducing  their 
number  to  twenty-two,  the  officers  included.  Not  long  after 
this  event,  four  of  the  men  deserted  in  a  whale-boat,  carry- 
ing off  with  them  several  small  articles  of  value.  But  eigh- 
teen now  remained. 

20* 


238  NAVAL  HISTORY.        » 

On  the  12th  of  April,  Mr.  Gamble  began  to  rig  the 
Seringapatam  and  the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  with  the 
intention  of  quitting  the  islands,  the  long  absence  of  the 
Essex  inducing  him  to  despair  of  her  return.  Some  symp- 
toms of  a  mutiny  now  began  to  show  themselves,  and  he 
had  all  the  arms  and  ammunition  brought  on  board  the 
Greenwich,  in  which  vessel  he  lived;  but  having  occasion 
to  be  on  board  the  Seringapatam,  on  the  7th  of  May,  a 
party  of  six  men  rose,  and  took  the  ship  from  him.  During 
the  time  Mr.  Gamble  was  in  the  hands  of  these  men,  he  was 
badly  wounded  in  the  foot  by  a  pistol  ball,  and  they  suc- 
ceeded in  carrying  off  the  Seringapatam,  sending  the  officer, 
and  the  people  with  him,  on  board  another  vessel. 

Every  exertion  was  now  made  to  get  to  sea  with  the  Sir 
Andrew  Hammond,  but,  on  the  9th,  the  natives  made  an 
attack,  and  Mr.  Feltus,  with  three  men,  were  killed,  arid  one 
other  was  severely  wounded.  The  situation  of  those  that 
remained,  now  became  exceedingly  critical,  the  whole  party 
consisting  of  only  eight  individuals,  of  whom  two  were  badly 
wounded,  one  was  a  cripple,  and  another  was  just  recover- 
ing from  a  serious  attack  of  the  scurvy.  In  fact,  there  were 
but  four  men  on  board  the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond  fit  for 
duty.  The  jib  and  spanker  were  bent  as  fast  as  possible, 
the  moorings  were  cut,  and,  under  that  short  sail,  the 
ship  passed  slowly  out  to  sea,  under  cover  of  the  night. 
When  safe  in  the  offing,  but  six  cartridges  were  left,  the 
Seringapatam  having  carried  off  most  of  the  ammunition  in 
kegs. 

To  add  to  the  difficulties  of  his  situation,  Mr.  Gamble  had 
no  chart.  He  made  out  to  reach  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
however,  in  seventeen  days,  where  he  was  captured  by  the 
Cherub,  and  first  learned  the  fate  of  the  Essex.  The  Ame- 
ricans continued  seven  months  in  this  ship,,  until  they  were 
landed  at  Rio  de  Janeiro,  from  which  port  Mr.  Gamble  got 
to  New  York,  late  in  August,  1815. 


JCAVAL  HISTORY.  239 

Having  now  closed  the  history  of  the  three  ships  that 
sailed  under  the  orders  of  Com.  Bainbridge,  it  becomes 
necessary  to  return  to  the  commencement  of  the  year  1812, 
deferring,  however,  an  account  of  the  proceedings  on  the 
different  lakes,  to  another  portion  of  the  work,  in  order  to 
preserve  the  connexion  that  is  necessary  to  clearness  and 
interest. 


240  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


THE  effect  of  the  successes  of  the  navy  on  the  public 
mind,  has  been  already  shown.  The  nation  was  well  dis- 
posed to  contribute  freely  to  the  enlargement  of  this  branch 
of  the  general  service ;  and,  encouraged  by  this  feeling,  the 
administration  had  so  far  extended  its  policy  as  to  recom- 
mend the  construction  of  four  ships  of  the  line.  Although 
few  of  the  more  important  political  objects  of  a  war  can  be 
looked  for  without  vessels  of  force,  it  may  be  questioned  if, 
under  the  particular  circumstances  of  the  country,  the  build- 
ing of  heavy  ships,  at  that  precise  moment,  was  the  wisest 
policy  that  could  be  adopted.  The  public  finances  were 
hardly  in  a  state  to  meet  the  sudden  and  heavy  demands 
that  a  fleet  of  any  force  would  make,  and  to  put  to  sea  a 
few  solitary  two-deckers,  out  of  distant  ports,  to  cruise 
without  concert,  would  have  been  to  betray  a  great  want  of 
the  ability  to  combine,  as  well  as  a  singular  feebleness  of 
purpose.  The  first  object  to  be  obtained  by  vessels  of  force, 
would  be  to  prevent  blockades,  and  to  render  descents  on 
the  coast  too  hazardous  to  be  attempted.  Failing  in  the 
means  to  effect  these  important  ends,  or  at  least  to  render 
an  attempt  to  thwart  them  too  precarious  in  the  eyes  of  the 
enemy,  a  discreet  view  of  the  interests  of  the  country  would 
seem  to  point  out  the  expediency  of  adopting  a  different 
species  of  force,  in  order  to  insure  the  next  most  practica- 
ble benefit  that  circumstances  allowed.  When  a  community 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  •  241 

neglects  the  golden  opportunity  for  achieving  any  important 
measure,  like  an  individual  similarly  situated,  it  must  be 
content  to  do  all  it  can,  and  to  abandon  the  design  of  doing 
what  it  desires.  Such,  virtually,  was  the  condition  of  America 
'at  that  moment;  and,  while  the  governing  necessity  of  pos- 
sessing  vessels  of  force,  ought  never  to  be  lost  sight  of, 
among  a  maritime  people,  it  may  well  be  doubted  whether 
the  money  expended  in  constructing  two  or  three  large 
ships,  during  the  years  1813  and  1814,  might  not  have  been 
far  more  discreetly  used  in  fitting  out  fifteen  or  twenty  fast- 
sailing  light  cruisers ;  vessels  that  might  have  been  built  and 
equipped  in  a  few  weeks,  and  which  would  be  almost  cer- 
tain of  getting  to  sea.* 

It  has  been  seen,  that  the  declaration  of  war  found  the 
naval  preparations  in  so  imperfect  a  condition,  that  the  Con- 
stellation 38,  Chesapeake  38,  and  Adams  28,  were  not  ready 
even  to  receive  crews,  while  it  was  found  necessary  to  re- 
build entirely  the  New  York  36,  Boston  28,  and  General 
Greene  28.  The  appropriations  for  the  repairs  of  the  three 
first  ships  having  been  made  in  March  1812,  the  Constella- 
tion was  equipped  and  manned  at  Washington,  in  the  course 
of  the  season.  When  Com.  Bainbridge  left  her  for  the  Con- 
stitution, the  command  of  this  ship  had  been  given  to  Capt. 
Stewart,  the  officer  who  had  served  as  second  in  command 
under  Com.  Preble,  during  most  of  the  operations  of  that 
celebrated  captain,  before  Tripoli.  In  the  course  of  the 
month  of  January,  1813,  Capt.  Stewart  dropped' down  the 
river  with  an  intention  to  get  to  sea,  but  on  reaching  St. 
Mary's,  an  order  was  received,  that  induced  him  to  go  to 

*  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that,  while  three  of  the  eight  efficient  frigates 
the  United  States  owned  soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  war  (includ- 
ing one  captured  from  the  enemy,)  were  blockaded,  no  sloop  of  war  was 
prevented  from  getting  to  sea.  The  first  great  object  of  the  government 
should  be  to  prevent  blockades  altogether;  its  next,  to  employ  vessels  that 
cannot  be  blockaded. 


242  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Annapolis,  in  order  to  examine  his  powder.  From  this 
place,  the  ship  was  directed  to  proceed  to  Norfolk.  Jn  exe-s 
cuting  this  order,  the  Constellation  anchored  in  Hampton 
Roads,  and  the  next  morning  a  fleet  of  the  enemy,  consist- 
ing of  several  two-decked  ships,  frigates  and  sloops-of-war, 
came  in  and  anchored  off  Willoughby's  Point,  where  they 
were  becalmed.  While  the  English  ships  were  waiting  for 
the  turn  of  the  tide,  the  Constellation  Mras  kedged  up  until 
she  grounded  on  the  flats  above,  and  the  same  night,  when 
the  tide  floated  her,  she  was  carried  up,  and  anchored  be- 
tween the  forts  at  Norfolk. 

A  few  days  later,  the  Constellation  dropped  down  abreast 
of  Craney  Island,  with  a  view  to  cover  the  fortifications 
then  erecting  at  that  place.  At  this  time,  the  enemy  was 
still  lying  in  force  in  Hampton  Roads.  The  ship  being 
much  exposed,  it  being  at  all  times  practicable  for  the  ene- 
my to  attempt  carrying  her  by  surprise,  Capt.  Stewart  felt 
the  necessity  of  using  great  precautions  for  her  protection. 
As  the  manner  in  which  the  frigate  was  prepared  for  de- 
fence, on  this  occasion,  was  highly  appreciated  for  its  skil- 
ful and  seaman-like  dispositions,  it  is  thought  worthy  of 
being  particularly  mentioned. 

The  Constellation  was  anchored  in  the  middle  of  the 
channel,  which  is  quite  narrow,  and  on  each  side  of  her 
were  moored  seven  gun-boats,  on  board  of  which  were 
placed  officers  and  men  belonging  to  the  ship.  A  circle  of 
booms,  securely  fastened,  protected  the  gun-boats  from 
being  boarded,  which  would  enable  them  to  maintain  a 
flanking  fire,  on  all  assailants  of  the  frigate.  The  gun-deck 
guns  of  the  latter  were  housed,  and  the  ports  were  shut  in. 
Great  care  was  taken  that  no  rope  should  be  permitted  to 
be  hanging  over  the  side  of  the  vessel,  the  stern  ladders 
were  taken  away,  and  even  the  gangway-elects  were  re- 
moved. Boarding  nettings  were  made  of  twenty-one  thread 
ratlin-stuff,  that  had  been  boiled  in  half-made  pitch,  which 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  243 

rendered  it  so  hard  as  almost  to  defy  the  knife.  To  give 
greater  security,  nail. rods  and  small  chains  were  secured 
to  the  netting,  in  lines  about  three  feet  apart.  Instead  of 
tricing  to  the  rigging,  this  netting  \vas  spread  out-board, 
towards  the  yard-arms,  rising  about  twenty-five  feet  above 
the  deck.  To  the  outer  rope,  or  ridge-line  of  the  netting,  were 
secured  pieces  of  kentledge,  with  the  idea  that  by  cutting 
the  tricing  lines  when  the  enemy  should  get  along  side, 
his  boats  and  men  might  be  caught  beneath,  by  the  fall 
of  the  weights.  Pieces  of  kentledge  were  also  suspend- 
ed forward,  from  the  spritsail-yard,  bowsprit,  &c.  &c., 
to  prevent  boats  from  lying  beneath,  while  the  netting  was 
here  hoisted  to  the  fore-stay.  The  carronades  were  charged 
to  the  muzzles  with  musket  balls,  and  depressed  to  the 
nearest  range,  in  order  to  sweep  the  water  around  the 
ship.  As  the  frigate  was  light,  and  unusually  high  out  of 
the  water,  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  best  judges,  that  defend- 
ed as  she  would  certainly  have  been,  under  the  officers  who 
were  in  her,  she  could  not  have  been  carried  without  a  loss 
of  several  hundred  men  to  the  enemy,  if  she  could  have 
been  carried  by  boats  at  all. 

It  would  appear,  notwithstanding,  that  the  enemy  was 
disposed  to  make  the  attempt.  A  large  force  of  British 
ships  having  collected  in  the  Roads,  the  admirals  in  com- 
mand seriously  contemplated  an  assault  on  the  Constella- 
tion, after  she  had  been  a  few  days  in  her  exposed  situation. 
Fortunately,  Capt.  Stewart  received  notice  of  their  inten- 
tions. A  Portuguese  had  been  stopped  by  the  fleet,  on  his 
way  to  sea,  and  his  ship  was  anchored  at  the  upper  part  of 
the  Roads,  just  out  of  gun-shot  of  the  frigate.  On  board 
this  vessel,  the  Admiral  kept  a  guard  and  a  look-out,  to  sig- 
nal the  movements  above.  An  American  passenger,  on 
board  the  Portuguese,  learned  from  the  conversation  of  dif- 
ferent officers,  their  designs  on  the  Constellation,  and  he 
found  means  to  get  on  board  the  frigate  to  apprise  her  of 


244  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  enemy's  plan,  handsomely  volunteering  to  remain  in  the 
ship,  to  help  defend  her.*  Of  course  the  guard-boats  were 
enjoined  to  be  more  vigilant  than  ever,  and  every  thing  was 
got  ready  to  give  the  enemy  a  warm  reception. 

The  night  succeeding  the  notice  was  star-light,  and  no- 
thing was  attempted.  The  next  morning,  the  master  of  the 
Portuguese  stopped  along-side  of  the  frigate,  on  his  way  to 
Norfolk,  and  stated  that  a  large  number  of  boats  had  col- 
lected at  his  ship  the  previous  evening,  but  that  the  expedi- 
tion had  been  deferred  until  that  night,  which  promised  to 
be  dark  and  drizzling.  .Accordingly  the  guard-boat  was  on 
the  look-out,  and  it  fell  in  with  a  division  of  boats,  that  was 
supposed  to  contain  from  1500  to  2000  men.  As  soon  as 
the  enemy  was  seen,  the  officer  in  the  boat  showed  two 
lanterns  on  the  off-side  of  his  cutter,  and  all  hands  were 
called  in  the  ship.  It  would  seem  that  the  enemy  ascer- 
tained that  his  approach  was  discovered,  and  he  retired. 

The  following  night,  the  attempt  was  renewed,  with  the 
same  want  of  success.  A  few  nights  later,  it  again  proved 
dark  and  drizzling,  and  a  third  expedition  came  up.  On  this 
occasion,  Mr.  B.  J.  Neale,  the  second  lieutenant  of  the  Con- 
stellation, was  in  the  guard-boat,  and  he  edged  close  in  with 
the  enemy,  who  discovered  him.  As  soon  as  the  word  of 
"a  stranger,"  was  passed,  the  people  of  the  cutter  sprang  to 
their  oars,  and  pulled  out  of  sight,  but  finding  he  was  not 
pursued,  Mr.  Neale  returned  and  kept  company  with  the 
brigade  of  boats,  which  passed  up  on  the  inside  of  the  flats, 
above  the  mouth  of  Tanner's  creek,  and  anchored  at  no 

great  distance  below  the  forts.t     Here  many  of  the  officers 

'.  .  '••     • ',. ' 

•  ,  .          -.  '  »•.-.-        .'  .•  _       '• 

*  The  name  of  this  gentleman  deserves  to  be  honourably  mentioned. 
It  was  Mr.  March,  of  the  mercantile  firm  of  March  and  Benson,  New 
York. 

f  As  Mr.  Neale  pulled  off,  he  fired  a  musket  at  the  enemy,  and  it  is  said 
the  ball  passed  through  the  jacket  of  an  officer  of  high  rank.  This  gen- 
tleman kept  so  close  to  the  enemy  that  he  overheard  their  conversation, 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  245 

landed,  and  walked  about  to  keep  themselves  warm,  the 
guard-boat  anchoring  also.  When  the  ebb  tide  made,  the 
brigade  returned,  the  Constellation's  boat  quitting  them 
only  when  they  had  got  below  the  frigate. 

Shortly  after,  the  fortifications  being  sufficiently  ad- 
vanced, and  block  ships  being  ready  for  sinking  in  the 
channel,  the  Constellation  was  carried  up  again  to  a  place 
of  security.  About  this  time  Capt.  Stewart  was  transferred 
to  the  command  of  the  Constitution  44,  and  Capt.  Tarbell 
received  a  temporary  appointment  to  the  Constellation, 
though,  the  enemy  always  maintaining  a  strong  force  in  the 
waters  of  the  Chesapeake,  the  ship  continued  to  be  block- 
aded until  the  peace. 

The  Chesapeake,  lying  at  Boston,  had  less  difficulty  in 
getting  to  sea,  for  the  enemy  did  not  keep  any  force  before 
that  port,  during  the  first  few  months  of  the  war;  most 
probably  under  the  false  impression  that  such  was  the  dis- 
affection of  the  eastern  states,  that  it  would  virtually  be  an- 
noying friends.  She  sailed  at  the  close  of  February  1813, 
under  the  orders  of  Capt.  Evans,  and  passing  by  the  Canary 
Isles  and  the  Cape  de  Verds,  she  crossed  the  equator,  and 
remained  for  six  weeks  near  the  line.  She  then  made 
the  coast  of  South  America,  passed  the  spot  where  the 
Hornet  sunk  the  Peacock,  the  day  after  that  action  had 
occurred,  and  went  through  the  West  Indies,  and  along 
the  American  coast,  to  the  port  from  which  she  had  sailed. 
During  this  long  run,  Capt.  Evans  saw  but  three  men-of- 
war,  a  ship  of  the  line  and  a  frigate,  near  the  Western 

which  was  repeated  to  them,  by  the  next  flag  that  went  down.    The  En- 
glish officers  confessed  that  the  vigilance  of  the  ship  was  too  much  for 
them,  insisting  that  Capt.  Stewart  must  be  a  Scotchman,  he  was  so  actively 
awake.     "If  the  Constellation  were  a  Frenchman,  we  should  have  had 
her  long  ago,"  observed  an  officer  of  very  high  rank,  on  that  occasion. 
,    This  might  have  been  so,  or  not,  for  the  French  understand  defending  a 
ship  at  anchor,  as  well  as  most  nations. 
VOL.  II.— 21 


246  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Islands,  and  a  sloop-of-war,  off  the  Capes  of  Virginia.  The 
latter  escaped  in  the  night,  after  a  chase  of  two  days.  The 
Chesapeake  captured  four  merchant  vessels. 

This  cruise,  during  which  the  frigate  had  been  taken, 
without  success,  over  a  part  of  the  ocean  much  frequented 
by  British  cruisers,  went  far  towards  confirming  the  char- 
acter of  being  an  unlucky  ship,  that  the  Chesapeake  had 
always  possessed,  and  neither  officers  nor  sailors  were  fond 
of  serving  in  her;  for,  whatever  reason  may  teach  men  on 
such  subjects,  facts  and  superstition  are  usually  found  to 
furnish  more  arguments  than  logic  and  common  sense.* 
In  entering  the  harbour,  the  Chesapeake  lost  a  top-mast, 
and  several  men,  who  were  aloft  at  the  time,  ,were  drown- 
ed. Capt.  Evans  gave  up  the  command  of  the  ship  on  his 
return,  on  account  of  his  health/I"  and  was  succeeded  by 
Capt.  James  Lawrence. 

By  this  time,  the  eneriiy  had  changed  his  policy  as  re- 
gards the  eastern  states,  and  he  kept  a  few  frigates  in  the 
vicinity  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  with  a  view  to  intercept  the 
American  ships  of  war  that  passed  in  and  out.  Two  of 
these  cruisers,  the  Shannon  38,  and  Tenedos  38,  had  been 
off  Boston,  it  was  said,  in  waiting  for  the  President  44,  and 
Congress  38,  to  come  out,  but  these  two  ships  had  sailed 
without  encountering  them,  and  it  was  by  no  means  proba- 
ble that  the  English  seriously  wished  a  meeting.  When  it 

*  In  the  navy,  at  this  particular  juncture,  the  Constitution,  Constella- 
tion and  Enterprise  were  the  lucky  vessels  of  the  service,  and  the  Chesa- 
peake and  President  the  unlucky.  The  different  vessels  named,  went 
into  the  war  of  1812  with  these  characters,  and  they  were  singularly 
confirmed  by  circumstances.  Even  the  fact  that  the  Constellation  re- 
mained blockaded  throughout  the  war,  scarcely  impaired  her  character, 
for  it  was  remarked  that  the  enemy  could  never  get  hold  of  her,  and,  usu- 
ally, her  officers  and  men  when  brought  into  action,  as  occurred  in  several 
instances,  in  boats  and  at  batteries,  were  successful. 

|  Capt.  Evans  had  lost  the  sight  of  one  of  his  eyes,  and  that  of  the  other 
was  in  great  danger. 


KAVAL  HISTORY.  247 

was  understood,  however,  that  the  Chesapeake  was  ready  to 
sail,  the  Shannon,  Capt.  Broke,  appeared  alone  in  the  offing, 
and  as  the  ships  were  very  fairly  matched,  a  combat  appear- 
ed much  more  probable.  It  is  now  known,  that  Capt.  Broke 
had  sent  in  an  invitation  to  Capt.  Lawrence,  to  meet  him 
in  any  latitude  and  longitude  that  might  be  agreed  on;  but, 
unfortunately,  his  letter  did  not  arrive  until  the  Chesapeake 
had  gone  out,  and  the  advantage  of  having  officers  and  men 
*  accustomed  to  act  a  little  together,  was  lost.  The  Chesa- 
peake's  contemplated  cruise  was  to  the  northward  and  east- 
ward, with  a  view  to  intercept  the  store-ships  and  troop- 
ships that  were  steering  for  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  Hornet 
18,  Capt.  Biddle,  had  been  put  under  the  orders  of  Capt. 
Lawrence,  and  it  was  intended  that  the  two  ships  should 
cruise  in  company.*  The  Greenland  whale-fishery,  how- 
ever, was  the  ultimate  object  of  these  vessels. 

In  the  forenoon  of  June  1st,  1813,  the  Shannon  appeared 
:    in  the  bay,  probably  in  the  expectation  of  receiving  an  an- 
swer to  the  letter  that  Capt.  Broke  had  sent  in.     At  this 

*  In  the  following  letter,  the  reader  will  discover  the  reluctance  with 
which  Lawrence  sailed  in  the  Chesapeake,  besides  getting1  a  better  idea 
of  the  contemplated  cruise.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  latter  resembled  the 
cruise  of  Paul  Jones  and  of  the  elder  Biddle,  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. In  this  letter,  however,  Capt.  Lawrence  does  not  go  beyond  the 
expected  place  of  meeting  of  the  two  ships. 

"  BOSTON,  May  27th,  1813. 
"Dear  Sir: 

"  In  hopes  of  being  relieved  by  Capt.  Stewart,  I  neglected  writing 
agreeably  to  promise,  but  as  I  have  given  over  all  hopes  of  seeing  him, 
and  the  Chesapeake  is  almost  ready,  I  shall  sail  on  Sunday,  provided  I  have 
a  chance  of  getting  out  clear  of  the  Shannon  and  Tenedos,  who  are  on 
the  look-out.  My  intention  is  to  pass  out  by  Cape  Sable,  then  run  out 
west  (east,)  until  I  get  into  the  stream,  then  haul  in  for  Cape  Canso,  and 
run  for  Cape  Breton,  where  I  expect  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you;  I  think 
your  best  chance  of  getting  out  is  through  the  Sound. 

"In  haste,  yours  sincerely,  "  J.  LAWRENCE. 

"  Capt.  BIDDI.Z." 


248  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

time,  the  Chesapeake  was  lying  in  President  Roads,  ready  for 
sea;  though  some  disaffection  existed  among  the  cre\v,  on 
account  of  the  prize-money  of  the  last  cruise,  which  was  still 
unpaid.  The  ship  had  an  unusual  number  of  mercenaries 
in  her;  and  among  others,  was  a  boatswain's  mate,  a  Por- 
tuguese, who  was  found  to  be  particularly  troublesome. 
Under  the  extraordinary  circumstances  in  which  the  ves- 
sel was  placed,  it  was  thought  prudent  to  temporize,  and  the 
people  were  addressed,  and  some  promises  were  made  to 
them,  that  had  the  apparent  effect  to  put  them  in  a  better 
humour. 

At  12,  meridian,  the  Chesapeake  lifted  her  anchor,  and 
stood  out  into  the  bay,  with  a  pleasant  breeze  from  the 
southward  and  westward.  As  the  Shannon  was  then  in 
plain  sight,  the  ship  was  cleared  for  action,  and  the  best 
appearances  were  assumed,  although  it  is  known  that  Capt. 
Lawrence  went  into  this  engagement  with  strong  reluctance, 
on  account  of  the  peculiar  state  of  his  crew.  He  had  himself 
joined  the  vessel  not  long  before ;  her  proper  first  lieutenant, 
Mr.  B.  Page,  of  Virginia,  an  officer  of  experience,  was 
ill  on  shore,  and  died  soon  after,  in  Boston;  the  acting  first 
lieutenant,  Mr.  Augustus  Ludlow,  of  New  York,  though  ah 
officer  of  merit,  was  a  very  young  man,  and  was  in  an  en- 
tirely novel  situation,  and  there  was  but  one  other  commis- 
sioned sea-officer  in  the  ship,  two  of  the  midshipmen  acting 
as  third  and  fourth  lieutenants,  and  now  performing  this  duty 
for  the  first  time.  One,  if  not.  both  of  these  young  gentlemen, 
had  also  just  joined  the  ship,  following  their  captain  from 
the  Hornet.  In  addition,  the  Chesapeake  had  an  unusual 
number  of  landsmen  in  her.  Notwithstanding  all  these  sinis- 
ter circumstances,  the  history  of  naval  warfare  does  not 
contain  an  instance  of  a  ship's  being  more  gallantly  conduct- 
ed, than  the  Chesapeake  was  now  handled. 

The  Shannon  stood  off  under  easy  sail,  when  Capt.  Law- 
rence fired  a  gun,  about  half  past  4,  which  induced  her  to 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  249 

heave-to,  with  her  head  to  the  southward  and  eastward. 
By  this  time  the  wind  had  freshened,  and  at  5,  the  Chesa- 
peake took  in  her  royals  and  top-gallant-sails,  and  half  an 
hour  later,  she  hauled  up  her  courses.  The  two  ships  were 
now  about  30  miles  from  the  light,  the  Shannon  under 
single-reefed  topsails  and  jib,  and  the  Chesapeake  under  her 
whole  topsails  and  jib,  coming  down  fast.  As  the  Shannon 
was  running  with  the  wind  a  little  free,  there  was  an  anx- 
ious moment  on  board  of  her,  during  which  it  was  uncer- 
tain on  which  side  the  Chesapeake  was  about  to  close,  or 
whether  she  might  not  be  disposed  to  commence  the  action 
on  her  quarter.  But  Capt.  Lawrence  chose  to  lay  his  enemy 
fairly  along  side,  yard-arm  and  yard-arm,  and  he  luffed,  and 
ranged  up  a-beam,  on  the  Shannon's  starboard  side.  When 
the  Chesapeake's  foremast  was  in  a  line  with  the  Shannon's 
mizzen-'mast,  the  latter  ship  discharged  her  cabin  guns,  and 
the  others  in  succession,  from  aft,  forward.  The  Chesapeake 
did  not  fire  until  all  her  guns  bore,  when  she  delivered  as 
destructive  a  broadside  as  probably  ever  came  out  of  a  ship 
of  her  force.  For  six  or  eight  minutes  the  cannonading  was 
fierce,  and  the  best  of  the  action  is  said  to  have  been  with 
the  American  frigate,  so  far  as  the  general  effect  of  the  fire 
was  concerned,  though  it  was  much  in  favour  of  the  enemy, 
in  its  particular  and  accidental  consequences.  While  pass- 
ing the  Shannon's  broadside,  the  Chesapeake  had  her  fore- 
topsail  tie  and  jib  sheet  shot  away.  Her  spanker  brails 
also  were  loosened,  and  the  sail  blew  out.  These  accidents 
occurring  nearly  at  the  same  instant,  they  brought  the  ship 
up  into  the  wind,  when  taking  aback,  she  got  stern  way, 
and  fell  aboard  of  the  enemy,  with  her  mizzen-rigging  foul 
of  the  Shannon's  fore-chains.  By  some  accounts,  the  fluke 
of  an  anchor  on  board  the  Shannon  hooked  in  the  rigging 
of  the  Chesapeake.  Whatever  may  have  served  to  keep 
the  ships  together,  it  appears  to  be  certain,  that  the  Ameri- 
can frigate  lay  exposed  to  a  raking  fire  from  the  enemy, 

21* 


250  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

who  poured  into  her  the  contents  of  one  or  two  carronades, 
that  nearly  swept  her  upper  deck.  At  the  few  first  dis- 
charges of  the  Shannon,  Capt.  Lawrence  had  received  a 
wound  in  the  leg;  Mr. Broom,  the  marine  officer,  Mr.  Ballard, 
the  acting  fourth  lieutenant,  and  the  boatswain,  were  mor- 
tally wounded;  Mr.  White,  the  master,  was  killed,  and  Mr. 
Ludlow,  the  first  lieutenant,  was  twice  wounded  by  grape 
and  musketry.  Such  was  the  state  of  the  upper  deck,  as  the 
accidents  mentioned,  brought  the  vessels  in  contact.  When 
Capt.  Lawrence  perceived  that  the  ships  were  likely  to  fall 
foul  of  each  other,  he  directed  the  boarders  to  be  called, 
but,  unfortunately,  a  bugleman  had  been  substituted  for  the 
drummer  in  giving  the  signal,  and  this  man,  a  negro,  was 
so  much  alarmed  at  the  effects  of  the  conflict,  that  he  had 
concealed  himself  under  the  stern  of  the  launch ;  when 
found,  he  was  completely  paralyzed  by  fear,  and  was  to- 
tally unable  to  sound  a  note.  Verbal  orders  were  conse- 
quently sent  below,  by  the  captain's  aids,  for  the  boarders 
to  come  on  deck.  At  this  critical  moment,  Capt.  Lawrence 
fell  with  a  ball  through  the  body. 

The  upper  deck  was  now  left  without  an  officer  on  it 
above  the  rank  of  a  midshipman.  It  was  the  practice  of 
the  service,  in  that  day,  to  keep  the  arms  of  the  boarders 
on  the  quarter-deck,  and  about  the  masts ;  and  even  when 
the  boarders  had  been  summoned  in  the  slow  and  imperfect 
manner  that  was  allowed  by  the  voice,  in  the  confusion  of 
a  combat,  they  were  without  arms;  for,  by  this  time,  the 
enemy  was  in  possession  of  the  Chesapeake's  quarter-deck. 

As  soon  as  the  ships  were  foul,  Capt.  Broke  passed  for- 
ward in  the  Shannon,  and,  to  use  his  own  language,  "  see- 
ing that  the  enemy  were  flinching  from  his  guns,"  he  gave 
the  order  to  board.  Finding  that  all  their  officers  had 
fallen,  and  exposed  to  a  raking  fire,  without  the  means  of 
returning  a  shot,  the,  men  on  the  Chesapeake's  quarter- 
deck had  indeed  left  their  guns.  The  marines  had  suffered 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  251 

severely,  and  having  lost  their  officer,  were  undecided  what 
to  do,  and  the  entire  upper  deck  was  left  virtually  without 
any  defence. 

When  the  enemy  entered  the  ship,  from  his  fore-channels, 
it  was  with  great  caution,  and  so  slowly,  that  twenty  reso- 
lute men  would  have  repulsed  him.  The  boarders  had  not 
yet  appeared  from  below,  and  meeting  with  no  resistance,  he 
began  to  move  forward.  This  critical  moment  lost  the 
ship,  for  the  English,  encouraged  by  the  state  of  the  Chesa- 
peake's  upper  deck,  now  rushed  forward  in  numbers,  and 
soon  had  entire  command  above  board.  The  remaining  offi- 
cers appeared  on  deck,  and  endeavoured  to  make  a  rally, 
but  it  was  altogether  too  late,  for  the  boatswain's  mate  men- 
tioned, had  removed  the  gratings  of  the  berth-deck,  and  had 
run  below,  followed  by  a  great  many  men.*  Soon  after, 
the  Chesapeake's  colours  were  hauled  down  by  the  enemy, 
who  got  complete  possession  of  the  ship,  with  very  little 
resistance. 

Capt.  Broke,  in  his  official  report  of  this  action,  observes 
that  after  he  had  boarded,  "  the  enemy  fought  desperately, 
but  in  disorder."  The  first  part  of  this  statement  is  proba- 
bly true,  as  regards  a  few  gallant  individuals  on  the  upper 
deck,  but  there  was  no  regular  resistance  to  the  boarders  of 
the  Shannon  at  all.  tThe  people  of  the  Chesapeake  had  not 
the  means  to  resist,  neither  were  they  collected,  nor  com- 
manded in  the  mode  in  which  they  had  been  trained  to  act. 
The  enemy  fired  down  the  hatches,  and  killed  and  wounded 
a  great  many  men,  in  this  manner,  but  it  does  not  appear 
that  their  fire  was  returned.  Although  the  English  lost  a 
few  men  when  they  boarded,  it  is  understood  that  the 
slaughter  was  principally  on  the  side  of  the  Americans,  as 
might  be  expected,  after  the  assault  was  made.f 

*  As  this  man  performed  this  act  of  treachery,  he  is  said  to  have  cried 
out,  "  so  much  for  not  having1  paid  men  their  prize-money." 
•j-  The  fact  that  the  English  met  with  no  resistance  in  coming1  on  board 


252  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Few  naval  battles  have  been  more  sanguinary  than  this. 
It  lasted  altogether  not  more  than  15  minutes,  and  yet  both 
ships  were  charnel  houses.  .  The  Chesapeake  had  48  men 
killed,  and  98  wounded,  a  large  propprtion  of  whom  fell  by 
the  raking  fire  of  the  Shannon,  after  the  Chesapeake  was 
taken  aback,  and  by  the  fire  of  the  boarders.  The  Shannon 
had  23  killed  and  56  wounded,  principally  by  the  Chesa- 
peake's  broadsides.  It  was  impossible  for  ships  of  that  size 
to  approach  so  near,  in  tolerably  smooth  water,  and  to  fire 
with  so  much  steadiness,  without  committing  great  havock. 
On  board  the  Chesapeake  fell,  or  died  of  their  wounds 
shortly  after  the  combat,  Capt.  Lawrence,  Lieuts.  Ludlow, 
Ballard  and  Broom,  (of  the  marines,)  Mr.  White,  the  mas- 
ter, Mr.  Adams,  the  boatswain,  and  three  midshipmen.  All 
but  the  midshipmen,  fell  before  the  enemy  boarded.  Mr. 
Budd  second,  and  Mr.  Cox  third  lieutenant,  were  wounded 
after  the  enemy  had  got  on  the  Chesapeake's  decks.  Several 
midshipmen  were  also  wounded.  The  Shannon  lost  her 
first  lieutenant,  and  one  or  two  inferior  officers,  and  Capt. 
Broke  was  badly  wounded;  the  boatswain  lost  an  arm,  and 
one  midshipman  was  wounded,  mostly  after  the  boarding. 

As  soon  as  the  ships  were  clear  of  each  other,  they  both 
made  sail  for  Halifax,  where  they  soon  after  arrived.  Capt. 
Lawrence  died  of  his  wounds  on  the  6th  of  June,  and  with 
Mr.  Ludlow,  was  buried  by  the  enemy  with  military 
honours.* 

the  Chesapeake,  is  fully  confirmed  by  the  official  account  of  Capt.  Broke. 
This  officer,  who  appears  to  have  behaved  with  great  personal  gallantry, 
was  among  the  first  to  board,  and  he  says,  "having  received  a  sabre  wound, 
at  the  first  onset,  while  charging  a  part  of  the  enemy,  who  had  rallied  mi 
their  forecastle,"  &c.  &c.  The  enemy  came  in  astern,  and  the  first  onset 
occurring  on  the  forecastle,  it  follows  that  there  was  no  resistance  aft. 

*  James  Lawrence  was  born  at  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  Oct.  1,  1781. 
His  father  was  a  respectable  lawyer,  and  it  was  first  intended  to  educate 
the  son  to  the  same  profession,  but  preferring  the  sea,  he  received  a  mid- 
shipman's warrant  on  the  4th  of  Sept.  1798.  His  first  service  was  in  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  253 

Perhaps  the  capture  of  no  single  ship  ever  produced  so 
much  exultation  on  the  side  of  the  victors,  or  so  much  de- 
Ganges  24,  Capt.  Tingey.  So  much  aptitude  did  he  show  for  the 
profession,  that  Mr.  Lawrence  was  made  an  acting  lieutenant,  by  his  com- 
mander, within  two  years  after  he  went  to  sea,  though  he  did  not  receive 
a  commission  until  1802.  He  was  first  lieutenant  in  the  Enterprise  from 
1802  to  1804,  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  attack  on  the  feluccas  at 
old  Tripoli,  in  May  1802,  under  Mr.  Porter.  In  February  1804,  he  ac- 
companied his  commander  Lieut.  Com.  Decatur,  and  the  Enterprise's 
ship's  company  in  the  attack  on  the  Philadelphia,  on  which  occasion  he 
was  the  second  in  command,  among  the  party  that  went  in.  In  1805  he 
crossed  the  ocean  twice  in  a  gun-boat,  and  in  1808  he  was  made  first  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Constitution. 

Mr.  Lawrence  enjoyed  a  high  reputation  in  the  service,  for  in  addition 
to  his  professional  attainments,  as  Decatur  had  expressed  himself  of  his 
character,  there  was  "no  more  dodge  about  him  than  to  the  main-mast." 
In  1809  he  got  command  of  the  Vixen  14,  and  shortly  after  of  the  Wasp  18. 
Being  still  a  lieutenant,  this  last  command  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish 
to  Capt.  Jones,  exchanging  his  ship  for  the  Argus  16.  In  1811  he  was 
promoted,  when  he  got  the  Hornet  18.  In  this  vessel  he  was  serving  at 
the  commencement  of  the  war,  and  in  her  he  captured  the  Peacock  18. 
His  next  command  was  the  Chesapeake  38,  after  he  was  made  a  captain, 
in  which  ship  he  fell,  dying  of  his  wounds  June  6th,  1813,  in  the  32d 
year  of  his  age. 

Capt.  Lawrence  married  a  lady  of  New  York,  in  1809,  while  in  com- 
mand of  the  Vixen,  by  whom  he  had  several  children,  only  one  of  whom, 
a  daughter,  survives. 

.  James  Lawrence  was  a  man  of  noble  stature,  and  fine  personal  appear- 
ance. He  had  the  air  and  manners  of  a  gentleman-like  sailor,  and  was 
much  beloved  by  his  friends.  He  was  quick  and  impetuous  in  feelings, 
and  sometimes  manifested  it  on  the  quarter-deck,  but,  in  all  critical  situa- 
tions, his  coolness  was  remarkable.  He  was  a  perfect  man-of-war's  man, 
and  an  excellent  quarter-deck  seaman,  handling  his  vessel  not  only  skil- 
fully, but  with  all  the  style  of  the  profession.  In  his  feelings  and  senti- 
ments he  was  chivalrous,  generous,  and  just.  All  his  younger  officers 
became  singularly  attached  to  him.  Indeed,  his  interest  in  the  midship" 
men  was  proverbial,  and,  on  one  occasion,  when  the  midshipmen  of  a  squad- 
ron gave  a  dinner  to  Com.  Rodgers,  for  some  reason,  it  was  proposed  not 
to  ask  any  lieutenant.  "What,  not  Mr.  Lawrence!"  cried  one.  Mr* 
Lawrence  was  excepted  by  acclamation,  and  was,  in  fact,  the  only  lieu- 
tenant present.  His  humanity  and  kindness  of  heart  were  as  conspicuous 


254  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

pression  on  that  of  the  beaten  party,  as  that  of  the  Chesa- 
peake. The  American  nation  had  fallen  into  the  error  of 
their  enemy,  and  had  begun  to  imagine  themselves  invinci- 
ble on  the  ocean,  and  this  without  any  better  reason  than 
having  been" successful  in  a  few  detached  combats,  and  its 
mortification  was  in  proportion  to  the  magnitude  of  its  de- 
lusion; while  England  hailed  the  success  of  the  Shannon  as 
a  proof  that  its  ancient  renown  was  about  to  be  regained. 
It  has  always  been  a  prevalent  illusion  among  the  people  of 
Great  Britain  to  believe  themselves  superior  to  most  other 
nations  in  pure  personal  prowess,  and  the  Chesapeake 
having  been  taken  by  boarding,  this  peculiar  disposition  was 
flattered  with  the  impression  that  they  had  prevailed  in  a 
hand  to  hand  conflict,  and  that  their  seamen  had  only  to  go 
on  board  the  American  ships  in  future,  in  order  to  be  tri- 
umphant. This  error,  in  the  end,  lost  them  several  vessels, 
for  a  more  hazardous  experiment  cannot  well  be  made,  than 
to  attempt  carrying  a  ship  of  any  force  by  boarding,  before 
she  has  been  virtually  beaten  with  the  guns.  It  is  scarcely 
exceeding  the  truth  to  say  that  such  a  circumstance  never 
occurred.  In  the  ancient  navies  of  Europe,  in  which  men 
obtained  commissions  on  account  of  their  birth,  and  cap- 
as  his  courage,  and  he  was  never  known  to  say  rude  things  to  his  inferiors, 
for  while  his  manner  had  all  a  seaman's  frankness,  and  sometimes  a  supe- 
rior's impatience,  it  was  tempered  by  the  qualities  of  a  gentleman.  His 
eyes  filled  with  tears  while  inflicting  necessary  punishment,  nor  was  it 
common  to  find  another  who  had  so  strong  a  reluctance  to  use  his  author- 
ity in  this  mode,  as  himself. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  Lawrence  fought  the  Chesapeake  contrary  to 
his  own  judgment.  His  challenge  to  the  Bonne  Cityonne  was  an  addi- 
tional reason  for  his  going  out,  under  the  circumstances,  and  it  furnishes 
proof,  in  itself,  of  the  inexpediency  of  using  those  means  of  bringing  on 
an  engagement.  His  deportment  during  the  battle  in  which  he  fell,  was 
noble  and  inspiriting,  and  the  loss  of  the  ship  may  be  imputed  to  his  death. 
Even  his  enemies  eulogized  the  manner  in  which  he  carried  his  vessel  into 
action,  and  his  d^ing  words  were  "  never  strike  the  flag  of  my  ship." 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 

tains  have  been  often  known  to  allow  their  inferiors  to  give 
orders  in  the  heat  of  a  combat,  any  thing  may  happen,  for 
a  ship  without  a  commander  is  like  a  man  without  a  soul ;  but 
no  experienced  seaman  will  ever  expose  his  people,  unneces- 
sarily in  this  manner,  against  an  enemy  that  he  feels  to  be 
prepared  to  receive  him. 

In  America  reflection  soon  caused  the  mortification  in  a 
great  measure  to  subside,  as  it  was  seen  that  the  capture  of 
the  Chesapeake,  was  owing  to  a  concurrence  of  circum- 
stances that  was  not  likely  to  again  happen.  It  was  soon 
understood  that  the  closeness  and  short  duration  of  this 
combat  were  actually  owing  to  their  own  officer,  who 
brought  his  ship  so  near  that  the  battle  was  necessarily 
soon  decided,  while  its  succeeding  incidents  were  altogether 
the  results  of  the  chances  of  war.  At  the  moment  when  the 
English  boarded,  the  total  loss  of  the  Shannon  in  men,  is 
believed  to  have  been  at  least  equal  to  that  of  the  Chesa- 
peake, and  yet  the  former  vessel  was  deprived  of  the  ser- 
vices of  no  important  officer  but  the  boatswain,  while  the 
Chesapeake  had  lost  those  of  her  captain,  two  of  her  lieu- 
tenants, master,  marine  officer  and  boatswain,  including 
every  one  in  any  authority  on  the  upper  deck.  These  for- 
tuitous events  are  as  unconnected  with  any  particular  merit 
on  the  one  side,  as  they  are  with  any  particular  demerit  on 
the  other;  and  the  feeling  of  the  public  gradually  settled 
down  into  a  sentiment  of  sincere  respect  for  the  high-spirit- 
ed Lawrence,  and  of  deep  regret  for  his  loss.  When  told 
of  their  defeat,  and  called  on  to  acknowledge  that  their  ene- 
my was  victorious  in  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  combats 
of  the  age,  they  have  generally  given  all  the  credit  to  the 
conquerors  that  they  deserved,  and  while  they  frankly  admit 
that  the  victory  was  remarkable,  they  may  be  excused  for 
believing  it  quite  as  much  so  for  standing  alone  in  such  a 
war,  as  for  any  other  distinguishing  characteristic. 


, 

256  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


WHILE  these  different  events  were  occurring  among  the 
frigates  and  larger  sloops  of  war,  the  lighter  cruisers  of  the 
navy  had  not  been  idle.  The  fate  of  the  Nautilus  has  been 
already  mentioned;  the  Argus'  cruises  have  also  been  al- 
luded to ;  but  nothing  has  been  said  of  the  Siren,  Enterprise, 
and  Vixen,  the  other  three  little  vessels,  which  were  so  distin- 
guished in  the  Tripolitan  contest.  The  latter,  like  her  sister 
the  Nautilus,  had  but  a  short  career  after  the  declaration  of 
war.  During  the  first  few  months,  she  was  on  the  southern 
coast,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Gadsden,  but  that 
officer  dying,  she  was  given  to  Capt.  Washington  Reed, 
who  went  on  a  cruise  among  the  islands.  A  few  days  out, 
he  was  fallen  in  with  and  chased  by  the  Southampton  32, 
Capt.  Sir  James  Lucas  Yeo,  which  ship  succeeded  in  getting 
along  side  of  the  Vixen,  after  a  short  but  severe  trial  of 
speed,  and  of  course  captured  her.  Both  vessels  were  soon 
after  wrecked  on  one  of  the  Bahama  Islands,  when,  it  is 
said,  that  the  American  crew  set  an  example  of  subordi- 
nation, sobriety  and  order,  that  produced  a  strong  impres- 
sion on  the  British  officers.* 

The  Siren  cruised  a  short  time  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
'•P?  •  .  •» 

*  Shortly  after,  and  before  he  could  be  exchanged,  Capt.  Reed,  who 
enjoyed  a  high  reputation  for  spirit  and  conduct  in  the  service,  died  of 
yellow  fever.  He  had  been  Somers'  first  lieutenant. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  257 

f».«  *V 

•without  meeting  with  any  thing,  under  Lieut.  Com.  Joseph 
Bainbridge,  and  then  came  north,  going  into  Boston.  Here 
Mr.  Bainbridge,  who  had  been  promoted,  was  transferred  to 
the  Frolic,  one  of  the  new  sloops  built  under  the  late  laws ; 
and  Mr.  George  Parker,  who  had  been  the  first  lieutenant 
of  the  Constitution,  in  her  action  with  the  Java,  having  been 
promoted,  was  attached  to  the  brig  in  his  place.  The  future 
history  of  this  little  cruiser  being  brief,  it  may  be  given  here. 
She  sailed  from  Boston  in  the  summer  of  1814,  and,  shortly 
after  she  got  to  sea,  Capt.  Parker*  died ;  when  Lieut.  N. 
Nicholson  succeeded  to  the  command.  On  the  12th  of  July, 
the  Siren  fell  in  with  the  Medway  74,  Capt.  Brine,  and,  after 
a  vigorous  chase  of  eleven  hours,  during  which  the  brig 
threw  her  guns  overboard,  she  was  captured,  and  taken 
into  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

The  fortune  of  the  Enterprise  was  better,  her  character 
for  good  luck  having  been  singularly  maintained,  and  this, 
too,  under  very  unfavourable  circumstances,  throughout 
the  whole  of  the  war.  Her  first  commander  was  Mr.  John- 
ston Blakely,  who  kept  her  on  the  eastern  coast,  where  she 
was  of  great  service,  in  driving  off  the  small  privateers  that 
were  sent  out  of  the  adjacent  English  ports.  In  August,  she 
captured  the  Fly  privateer,  and  soon  after,  Mr.  Blakely, 

*  The  professional  history  of  Capt.  Parker  was  a  little  singular.  He 
was  of  a  respectable  family  in  Virginia,  and  entered  the  navy  young.  He 
had  risen  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  or  acting  lieutenant,  when,  taking 
offence  at  something  in  the  deportment  of  a  tradesman  who  came  on  board 
the  ship  to  which  he  belonged,  which  was  lying  at  Washington  at  the  time, 
he  followed  the  man  on  shore  and  chastised  him.  The  man  is  said  to  have 
presented  himself  to  Mr.  Jefferson,  in  the  plight  in  which  he  had  been 
left,  and  Mr.  Parker  was  dismissed  from  the  navy,  without  trial.  This 
occurred  in  1804.  Determined  not  to  be  driven  from  his  profession,  Mr. 
Parker  entered  as  a  master's  mate,  and  not  long  after  rose  to  be  a  master. 
In  1807,  he  received  the  commission  of  a  lieutenant,  and  in  1813,  that  of 
a  master  and  commander.  He  was  a  brave  and  spirited  officer,  and  bade 
fair  to  rise  in  the  service,  when  he  died. 
VOL.  II.— 22 


258  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

having  risen  to  the  rank  of  master  and  commander,  was 
given  the  command  of  a  new  sloop  called  the  Wasp.  His 
successor  in  the  Enterprise  was  Mr.  William  Burrows. 
The  service  of  the  vessel,  under  this  officer,  was  not 
changed,  but  she  was  still  kept  to  watch  the  enemy's  pri- 
vateers, between  Cape  Ann  and  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 

The  Enterprise  left  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  on  the  1st  of  Sep- 
tember, 1813,  and  steering  to  the  eastward,  was  led  into 
Portland,  in  chase  of  a  schooner,  on  the  3d.  On  the  4th, 
she  swept  out  to  sea  again,  and  pursued  her  course  to  the 
eastward,  in  quest  of  several  privateers  that  were  reported 
to  be  offManhagan.  While  opening  the  bay,  near  Penguin 
Point,  a  brig  was  seen  getting  under  way,  that  had  every 
appearance  of  being  a  vessel  of  war.  The  character  of  the 
stranger  was  soon  put  out  of  all  doubt,  by  her  setting  four 
British  ensigns,  firing  several  guns,  which  are  since  known 
to  have  been  signals  of  recall  to  a  boat  that  had  gone  to  the 
shore,  and  her  making  sail  to  close  with  the  Enterprise. 
Being  satisfied  that  he  had  an  enemy  and  a  vessel  of  war 
to  deal  with,  Lieut.  Com.  Burrows  hauled  up,  in  order  to 
clear  the  land.  At  3  P.  M.,  believing  himself  far  enough 
from  the  shore,  he  shortened  sail,  and  edged  away  towards 
the  enemy.  The  brigs  closed  within  half  pistol-shot,  at  20 
minutes  past  3,  when  both  vessels  opened  their  fire  nearly 
at  the  same  instant.  As  the  wind  was  light,  and  there  was 
little  sea  on,  the  cannonade,  particularly  on  the  side  of  the 
Enterprise,  was  very  destructive ;  and,  by  a  singular  coin- 
cidence, both  commanders  fell,  almost  at  the  same  moment. 
The  American  passed  ahead,  and  manoeuvred  on  the  bows 
of  the  enemy,  to  advantage,  for  some  little  time  ;  though  the 
contest  was  mainly  decided  by  gunnery. 

About  4,  the  fire  of  the  enemy  ceased,  though  her  colours 
were  flying.  She  now  hailed  to  say  she  had  struck:  and 
when  ordered  to  haul  down  her  ensign,  an  answer  was  given 
that  it  had  been  nailed  aloft,  and  could  not  be  lowered 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  259 

until  the  fire  of  the  Enterprise  should  be  stopped.  After  this 
awkward  explanation,  the  Enterprise  ceased  firing,  and 
took  possession.  The  prize  proved  to  be  the  Boxer  14, 
Capt.  Blythe,  an  officer  of  merit,  who  had  been  cut  nearly 
in  two  by  an  eighteen-pound  shot.  The  loss  of  the  Boxer 
in  killed  has  never  been  accurately  ascertained,  though  it  is 
thought  to  have  been  relatively  heavy.  She  had  14  men 
wounded.  The  Enterprise  had  1  man  killed,  and  13  wound- 
ed, of  whom  3  subsequently  died.  Although  the  disparity 
in  the  casualties  of  this  action  was  not  so  striking  as  in  some 
of  the  previous  engagements,  that  in  the  injuries  received  by 
the  two  vessels  was  very  great.  But  one  eighteen-pound 
shot  hulled  the  Enterprise ;  one  passed  through  her  main- 
mast, and  another  through  her  fore-mast.  She  was  much 
cut  up  aloft,  particularly  by  grape;  and  a  great  many  shot 
of  the  latter  description  had  struck  her  hull.  Nearly  all  of 
the  casualties  were  received  from  grape  or  cannisler  shot. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Boxer  had  been  repeatedly  hulled, 
had  no  less  than  three  eighteen-pound  shot  through  her 
fore-mast  alone,  several  of  her  guns  were  dismounted,  her 
top-gallant  forecastle  was  nearly  cut  away,  and  her  sails, 
spars  and  rigging,  generally,  were  much  torn  to  pieces.  As 
the  water  was  smooth,  neither  vessel  was  dismasted.  The 
Enterprise  returned  to  Portland  on  the  7th,  with  the  Boxer, 
where  Lieut.  Com.  Burrows,*  and  Capt.  Blythe,  were  both 
buried  with  the  honours  of  war. 

i     '         •  :  t  •  •  v    •  '      .•  '....•'        >     l  •    • 

*  Mr.  Burrows  was  a  son  of  Lieut.  Col.  Burrows,  at  an  earlier  day  the 
commandant  of  the  marine  corps.  He  entered  the  navy,  January  4th, 
1800,  and,  though  a  man  of  great  singularity  of  temperament,  was 
generally  much  beloved  in  the  service.  He  took  the  Enterprise  into 
action  in  very  gallant  style,  and,  after  receiving  his  wound,  refused  to  be 
carried  below,  until  the  Boxer  had  struck.  Mr.  Burrows  was  killed  by 
the  accidental  position  of  a  limb.  While  encouraging  his  men,  he  laid 
hold  of  a  gun-tackle  fall,  to  help  the  crew  of  a  carronade  that  had  lost 
some  people,  to  run  out  the  gun,  and  in  doing  so,  raised  one  leg  against 
the  bulwark  to  aid  the  effort.  At  this  moment,  a  shot,  supposed  to  be  & 


260  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

This  little  success  was  the  first  that  had  fallen  to  the  share 
of  the  American  navy  since  the  loss  of  the  Chesapeake  ;  and 
it  had  a  great  influence  in  restoring  the  confidence  of  the 
nation,  which,  no  longer  expecting  impossibilities,  began  to 
be  satisfied  with  victory.  The  vessels  were  of  the  same 
class,  and,  though  the  Enterprise  was  the  longest  on  deck, 
there  was  no  material  difference  in  the  tonnage.  The  Ame- 
rican vessel  carried  two  guns  the  most;  her  armament,  as 
well  as  that  of  all  the  other  small  vessels,  having  been  in- 
creased since  the  Tripolitan  war.  When  the  Enterprise 
first  cruised  in  the  West  Indies,  her  armament  consisted  of 
12  sixes.  After  she  was  repaired,  or  rather  rebuilt,  at 
Trieste,  14  sixes  were  put  in  her;  and  subsequently,  when 
altered  into  a  brig,  by  crowding  the  ports,  she  carried  14 
eighteen-pound  carronades  and  two  long  chase  guns.  She 
probably  had,  also,  a  few  more  men  than  the  Boxer,  though 
precisely  what  number  cannot  be  ascertained,  as  the  latter 
brig  is  said  to  have  had  some  supernumeraries  in  her.  Both 
brigs  were  gallantly  fought,  and  it  is  admitted  that  the  Boxer 
was  not  given  up  too  soon.  When  Mr.  Burrows  fell,  the 
command  of  the  Enterprise  devolved  on  Lieut.  E.  B.  M'Call, 
who  brought  both  brigs  into  port.* 

;.*••./        "      .        ,\       '".-'.'-  *'•    "  '    ••"     .••-*"'-'  L 

cannister,  struck  his  thigh,  and  glanced  from  the  bone  into  his  body, 
inflicting-  a  fearfully  painful  wound,  which  he  bore  with  a  fortitude  that 
equalled  his  courage.  He  was  unmarried,  and  died  in  his  28th  year. 

*  There  is  little  doubt  that  Capt.  Ely  the  engaged  with  strong  expecta- 
tions of  capturing  the  Enterprise.  He  knew  of  her  being  near  him,  and 
probably  knew  her  when  he  got  under  way.  ,  It  is  impossible  he  should 
not  also  have  known  her  force.  His  people  came  into  action  in  high 
spirits;  and  the  colours  were  nailed  to  the  mast  by  his  orders.  When  the 
Enterprise  hailed  to  know  if  the  Boxer  had  struck,  one  of  the  officers  of 
the  latter  sprang  on  a  gun,  shook  both  fists  at  the  Americans,  and  cried 
out,  "No — no— -no,"  with  the  addition  of  some  pretty  strong  terms  of  op- 
probrium. So  powerful  was  this  gentleman's  excitement,  that  his  supe- 
rior had  to  order  him  down,  lest  he  might  be  the  means  of  drawing  a  fire 
on  the  vessel.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that  the  officers  and  men 


If  AVAL  HISTORY.  261 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Burrows,  Mr.  James  Renshaw 
was  appointed  to  ,the  command  of  the  Enterprise,  under 
which  officer,  during  the  following  winter,  she  made  a 
cruise  to  the  southward,  as  far  as  the  West  Indies.  Here 
her  usual  good  fortune  accompanied  her;  for  though  she 
sailed  badly,  and  was  three  times  hard  chased,  she  always 
escaped.  The  Rattlesnake  16,  a  fast-sailing  brig,  bought 
into  the  service,  was  in  company,  under  the  orders  of  Lieut. 
Com.  Creighton,  who  was  the  senior  officer  of  the  two  ves- 
sels. Mr.  Creighton  went  on  cruising  ground  much  fre- 
quented by  the  .enemy,  and  yet  fell  in  with  no  man-of-war 
he  could  engage.  He  was  chased  by  heavy  ships,  and,  to 
use  his  own  expression,  ".in  every  instance,  the  good  for- 
tune of  the  Enterprise  has  been  wonderfully  manifest." 
The  Rattlesnake  outsailed  her  consort  with  so  much  ease, 
that  most  of  the  cruise  she  was  under  her  topsails. 

While  off  the  coast  of  Florida,  the  Enterprise  got  along 
side  of  the  Mars  14,  a  British  privateer,  with  a  crew  of  75 
men.  When  the  two  brigs  appeared,  near  half  the  people 
of  the  Mars  took  to  the  boats  and  went  ashore,  to  escape 
impressment;  but  her  master,  notwithstanding  this  reduc- 
tion of  his  force,  ranged  up  under  the  broadside  of  the  En- 
terprise, with  his  tompions  out  and  guns  trained.  Lieut. 
Renshaw  being  ignorant  of  the  strength  of  the  crew  of  the 
Mars,  fired  into  her,  when  she  struck,  having  had  4  men 
killed  and  wounded.  On  the  25th  of  April,  the  brigs  sepa- 
rated, while  chased  by  a  frigate.  The  enemy  pursued  the 
Enterprise,  and  for  70  hours  pressed  her  very  hard.  Lieut. 
Com.  Renshaw  was  compelled  to  throw  all  his  guns  but 
one  overboard,  and  yet  the  enemy  frequently  got  within  the 

of  the  Enterprise  laughed  at  this  ludicrous  scene,  which  was  rendered  so 
much  the  more  piquant  by  the  process  of  lowering  colours  that  had  been 
nailed  aloft.  These  expedients  may  produce  good,  with  particular  crews, 
and  in  peculiar  circumstances;  but,  as  rules,  challenges  should  not  be 
given,  nor  colours  nailed  to  the  mast. 

22* 


262  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

range  of  shot.  On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  it  was  perfectly 
calm,  and  the  frigate,  then  at  long  gun-shot,  began  to  hoist 
out  her  boats,  when  a  light  breeze  sprang  up,  and  brought 
this  lucky  little  brig  again  dead  to  windward.  Nothing 
but  this  favourable  shift  of  wind  saved  the  Enterprise  from 
capture. 

Shortly   after,   Mr.   Creighton  was  promoted,  and  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  a  new  sloop  of  war  just  launch- 
ed at  Washington,  and  Mr.  Renshaw  was  transferred  to 
the  Rattlesnake.    The  two  vessels  being  in  a  southern  port, 
the  Enterprise  was  sent  to  Charleston,  where  she  became 
the  guard  vessel,  her  sailing  being  too  indifferent  to  allow 
of  her  being  sent  to  sea  again,  in  such  a  war.    When  cruis- 
ing in  the  Rattlesnake,  in  lat.  40°  N.,  long.  33°  W.,  Lieut. 
Com.  Renshaw  was  chased  by  a  frigate,  and  compelled  to 
throw  overboard  all  his  armament,  but  the  two  long  guns. 
By  this  means  he  escaped.     June  22d,  near  the  same  spot, 
however,  he  fell  in  with  the  Leander  50,  a  new  ship  con- 
structed on  the  most  approved  modern  plan,  which  vessel 
captured  him,  the  Rattlesnake  having  been  unfortunately 
placed  between  an  enemy  that  had  the  advantage  of  the 
wind,  and  the  land.    On  this  occasion,  Lieut.  Com.  Renshaw 
kept  his   colours  flying  in  a  very  steady  and  officer-like 
manner,  until  the  Leander  threw  her  shot  into  the  Rattle- 
snake with  precision  and  effect. 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  263 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


'  Irr  addition  to  the  law  of  January  2d,  1813,  which  au- 
thorized the  construction  of  the  four  ships  of  the  line,  and 
six  heavy  frigates,  it  will  be  remembered  that  the  execu- 
tive was  also  empowered  to  cause  several  sloops  of  war  to 
be  laid  down.  These  ships  were  of  the  class  of  the  Hornet 
and  Wasp,  but  were  a  little  larger  than  the  old  vessels  of  the 
same  rate;  and  they  all  mounted  20  thirty-two-pound  car- 
ronades,  besides  the  two  bow  guns.  Most  of  them  were  got 
into  the  water  in  the  course  of  the  year  1813,  though  their 
preparations  were  in  different  degrees  of  forwardness.  They 
were  called  the  Wasp,  the  Frolic,  the  Peacock,  the  Erie,  the 
Ontario,  and  the  Argus.  As  there  had  been  a  brig  in  the 
navy  of  the  latter  name,  however,  with  which  the  reader 
has  long  been  acquainted,  it  is  now  necessary  to  allude  to 
her  fate. 

After  the  return  of  the  Argus  from  her  cruise  under 
Lieut.  Com.  Sinclair,  as  has  been  already  stated,  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Henry  Allen,  who  had  been  the  first  lieutenant  of  the 
United  States  44,  in  her  action  with  the  Macedonian,  was 
appointed  to  command  her.  Lieut.  Allen  first  obtained  the 
Argus,  by  an  order  from  Com.  Decatur;  and  there  was  a 
moment  when  it  was  uncertain  whether  Capt.  Biddle,  or  this 
gentleman,  should  go  to  sea  in  the  brig,  but  the  former  was 
put  into  the  Hornet.  Mr.  Allen  was  shortly  after  promoted, 
when  his  new  station  was  confirmed  by  the  department. 


264  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

June  18th,  1813,  the  Argus  sailed  from  New  York,  with  Mr. 
Crawford,  then  recently  appointed  minister  to  France,  on 
board ;  and  after  a  passage  of  23  days,  she  arrived  safe  at 
POrient.  Remaining  but  three  days  in  port,  Capt.  Allen 
proceeded  on  a  cruise. 

The  Argus  sailed  from  POrient  about  the  middle  of  July, 
and  her  exploits  for  the  next  few  weeks,  revive  the  recol- 
lections of  those  of  Capts.  Jones,  Wickes,  and  Conyngham, 
during  the  Revolution.  Capt.  Allen  kept  his  brig  some  of 
the  time,  in  the  chops  of  the  English  channel,  then  went 
round  the  Land's  End,  and  shifted  his  cruising  ground  to  the 
Irish  channel.  He  captured  twenty  sail  of  merchant-men, 
while  passing,  as  it  might  be,  through  the  very  centre  of  the 
enemy,  most  of  which  were  destroyed.  The  appearance  of 
this  cruiser  so  near  the  British  coast,  excited  much  interest 
in  the  English  commercial  world,  and  several  cruisers  were 
immediately  sent  in  chase  of  her. 

It  will  readily  be  understood,  that  the  duty  on  board  the 
Argus,  was  of  the  most  harassing  and  fatiguing  nature,  the 
feelings  of  Capt.  Allen  inducing  him  to  allow  the  masters 
and  passengers  of  the  different  vessels  he  took,  to  remove 
every  thing  of  value,  that  belonged  to  themselves,  before  he 
caused  the  prizes  to  be  burned.  Indeed,  in  so  honourable 
and  chivalrous  a  spirit  did  this  excellent  officer  conduct  the 
peculiar  warfare  in  which  he  was  engaged,  that  even  the 
enemy  did  ample  justice  to  his  liberality. 

On  the  night  of  the  13th  of  August,  the  Argus  fell  in  with 
a  vessel  from  Oporto,  loaded  with  wine.  It  has  been  said, 
and  apparently  on  authority  entitled  to  credit,  that  a  good 
deal  of  the  liquor  was  brought  on  board  the  brig,  clandes- 
tinely, as  the  boats  passed  to  and  fro,  and  that  many  of  the 
people,  who  had  been  over-worked  and  kept  from  their 
rest,  partook  of  the  refreshment  it  afforded,  too  freely.  A 
little  before  day-light,  the  prize  was  set  on  fire,  when  the 
Argus  left  her,  under  easy  sail.  Shortly  after,  a  large  brig 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  265 

of  war  was  seen  standing  down  upon  the  American  vessel, 
under  a  cloud  of  canvass;  and  finding  it  impossible  to  gain 
the  wind  of  his  enemy,  Capt.  Allen  shortened  sail  to  allow 
him  to  close.  At  0,  the  Argus  wore,  and  fired  her  larboard 
broadside,  the  English  vessel  being  then  within  good  grape 
and  cannister  range.  The  fire  was  immediately  returned, 
the  brigs  fast  drawing  nearer.  Within  four  minutes  after 
the  commencement  of  the  action,  Capt.  Allen  was  mortally 
wounded,  by  a  round  shot's  carrying  off  a  leg.  He  re- 
fused to  be  taken  below,  but  fainting  from  loss  of  blood,  he 
was  carried  off  the  deck  at  8  minutes  past  6.  At  12  mi- 
nutes past  6,  Mr.  Watson,  the  first  lieutenant,  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  head  by  a  grape-shot,  which  stunned  him, 
and  he  also  was  taken  below.  But  one  lieutenajnt  remain- 
ed, Mr.  W.  H.  Allen,  who  continued  to  fight  the  brig,  in  a 
very  gallant  manner,  under  the  most  discouraging  circum- 
stances. At  this  juncture,  the  Argus  was  beautifully  hand- 
led, by  the  young  officer  in  command;  an  attempt  of  the 
enemy  to  cross  her  stern,  by  keeping  away,  having  been 
frustrated,  by  the  American  brig's  luffing  into  the  wind, 
making  a  half-board,  and  throwing  in  a  completely  raking 
broadside  herself.  But  all  the  braces  aft  having  been  shot 
away,  the  Argus  broke  round  off,  in  filling  again,  when  the 
enemy  succeeded  in  crossing  her  stern  and  raking.  At  25  mi- 
nutes past  6,  the  wheel-ropes  and  nearly  all  the  running  rig- 
ging being  gone,  the  Argus  became  unmanageable,  and  the 
enemy  chose  his  position  at  pleasure.  At  half  past  6,  Mr. 
Watson  returned  to  the  deck,  when  he  found  the  enemy 
lying  under  the  Argus'  stern,  pouring  in  his  fire  without 
resistance.  An  attempt  was  made  to  get  along  side,  with 
a  view  to  board,  but  it  was  found  impracticable  to  move 
the  American  brig,  while  the  enemy  kept  on  her  quarter,  or 
bow,  throwing  in  a  cross  or  raking  fire  with  impunity,  the 
Argus  seldom  being  able  to  bring  a  gun  to  bear.  At  47 
minutes  past  6,  the  colours  were  ordered  to  be  hauled 


206  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

down ;  the  enemy,  at  the  same  moment,  falling  on  board, 
and  taking  possession  over  the  bow. 

The  English  brig  was  the  Pelican  18,  Capt.  Maples, 
mounting  16  thirty-two  pound  carronades,  four  long  guns 
and  one  twelve  pound  carronade.  The  armament  of  the 
Argus,  by  crowding  guns  into  the  bridle  ports,  was  18 
twenty-four  pound  carronades  and  two  chase  guns.  The 
enemy  was  so  much  heavier,  that  it  may  be  doubted, 
whether  the  Argus  could  have  captured  her  antagonist  un- 
der any  ordinary  circumstances,  but  it  has  been  usual,  in 
the  service,  to  impute  this  defeat  to  a  want  of  officers,  .and 
to  the  fact  that  the  people  of  the  Argus  were  not  in  a  fit 
condition  to  go  into  action.  The  American  vessel  was 
particularly  well  officered,  so  far  as  quality  was  concerned, 
though  her  batteries  were  necessarily  left  without  a  proper 
supervision,  after  Mr.  Watson  was  taken  below.  It  is  not 
easy  to  believe  that  Capt.  Allen  would  have  engaged  with 
his  people  under  any  very  obvious  influence  from  a.  free  use 
of  wine,  but  nothing  is  more  probable  than  that  the  crew  of 
the  Argus  should  have  been  overworked,  in  the  peculiar 
situation  in  which  they  were  placed ;  and  they  may  have 
been  exposed  to  the  particular  influence  mentioned,  without 
the  circumstance's  having  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
superior  officers.  They  have,  indeed,  been  described  as 
"nodding  at  their  guns,"  from  excessive  fatigue.  One  thing 
would  seem  to  be  certain,  that,  while  the  brig  was  beauti- 
fully handled,  so  long  as  she  was  at  all  manageable,  the  fire 
of  no  other  American  cruiser,  in  this  war,  was  as  little  de- 
structive as  that  of  the  Argus.  This  has  been  attributed  to 
the  fatigue  of  the  crew,  and  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
the  circumstance  of  the  two  lieutenants  having  been  so  earb 
taken  from  the  batteries,  did  not  contribute  to  the  accuracy 
of  the  fire.  It  ought,  moreover,  to  be  added,  that  the  Peli- 
can was  about  a  fourth  larger  than  her  antagonist. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  fire  of4  the  enemy,  when  its  length, 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  267 

closeness,  and  want  of  resistance,  are  considered,  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  remarkable.  The  Argus  had  two 
midshipmen,  and  four  men  killed,  and  17  men  wounded,  in 
an  action  of  three  quarters  of  an  hour.  The  Pelican,  not- 
withstanding, was  extremely  well  managed,  and  was  very 
gallantly  fought.  She  lost  7  men  in  killed  and  wounded,  but 
appears  to  have  suffered  very  little  in  her  hull,  or  even  aloft. 

Capt.  Allen*  died  of  his  wound  in  the  hospital  of  Mill 
Prison,  and  was  buried  by  the  enemy  with  the  honours  of 
war.  Mr.  Watson  recovered  of  his  hurts. 

*  William  Henry  Allen  was  born  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  Oct. 
21,  1784.  His  father  had  been  an  officer  of  the  Revolution,  and  his  mo- 
ther was  the  sister  of  one  of  the  governors  of  the  state.  He  entered  the 
navy  April  28th,  1800,  or  in  his  sixteenth  year,  and  his  first  cruise  was  in 
the  George  Washington,  Capt.  Bainbridge;  his  second  in  the  Philadel- 
phia, Capt.  S.  Barron;  his  third  in  the  John  Adams,  Capt.  Rodgers.  He 
was  made  an  acting  lieutenant  into  the  Constitution,  Com.  Rodgers,  in 
1805.  He  was  one  of  the  Chesapeake's  lieutenants  in  1807,  and  the  only 
gun  that  was  fired  at  the  Leopard,  was  touched  off  by  Mr.  Allen,  by 
means  of  a  coal,  held  in  his  fingers.  He  remained  in  the  Chesapeake 
after  Capt.  Decatur  took  her,  and  he  followed  that  officer  to  the  United 
States  44,  as  her  first  lieutenant.  In  this  latter  capacity  he  was  serving 
when  the  Macedonian  was  taken.  On  that  occasion,  Mr.  Allen  obtained 
great  credit,  as  the  executive  officer  of  the  ship,  and  the  manner  in  which 
he  repaired  the  damages  of  the  prize,  has  been  esteemed  highly  seaman- 
like;  and  beautiful.  His  promotion,  appointment  to  the  Argus,  and  death, 
appear  in  the  text. 

Capt.  Allen  was  esteemed  one  of  the  best  officers  of  his  class  in  the  navy. 
A  thorough  man-of-war's  man,  he  was  of  mild  and  gentleman-like  deport- 
ment, a  fine,  martial,  personal  appearance,  and  of  respectable  mental  at- 
tainments. His  influence  over  the  crews  with  which  he  sailed  was  very 
great,  and  it  is  not  possible  to  say,  now,  what  might  have  been  the  result 
of  the  combat,  in  which  he  fell,  had  he  not  been  so  early  killed.  He  was 
unmarried. 

The  two  lieutenants  of  the  Argus,  though  young  in  service,  were  both 
men  of  great  merit.  Mr.  Watson  died  while  serving  on  the  West  India 
station,  a  few  years  later,  and  left  an  unusually  high  name,  for  his  gentle- 
manly and  personal  qualities;  while  the  junior  lieutenant,  who  bore  the 
same  name  as  Capt.  Allen,  without  being  a  relative,  was  killed  in  battle 


268  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Thus  the  navy  lost  all  but  the  Enterprise,  of  the  five  little 
cruisers  that  had  figured  before  Tripoli,  and  which  had  be- 
come endeared  to  the  service,  by  its  traditions  and  recol- 
lections. The  Argus  alone,  had  been  taken  under  circum- 
stances that  allowed  a  gun  to  be  fired.  Those  who  remem- 
bered the  time  when  Stewart,  Sorners,  Decatur,  Hull  and 
Smith,  bold  and  ambitious  young  seamen,  commanded 
these  vessels,  in  a  warfare  conducted  in  a  distant  sea, 
attached  an  importance  to  their  loss,  that  was  altogether 
disproportioned  to  their  intrinsic  value,  and  it  did  not  fail 
to  excite  remark,  that  the  Enterprise  alone,  whose  good 
fortune  had  already  been  so  conspicuous,  should  con- 
tinue to  cruise,  with  impunity,  in  the  very  centre  of  the 
enemy's  force,  while  her  four  consorts  had  fallen,  one  by 
one.*  ' 

with  pirates,  leaving  as  high  a  professional  and  private  character  behind 
him,  as  any  man  of  his  age,  who  ever  died  in  the  -service.  He  was  an  officer 
of  great  ingenuity,  respectable  attainments,  proved  courage,  and  high 
principles. 

*  The  luck  of  the  Enterprise  will  be  more  apparent,  by  a  short  sum- 
mary of  her  services.  In  the  French  war,  under  Lieut.  Com.  Shaw,  she»t»ok 
more  French  privateers  than  any  vessel  in  the  West  Indies,  and  her  ac- 
tion with  le  Flambeau,  was  one  of  the  warmest  of  the  sort  known.  In  the 
succeeding  war,  she  took  the  Tripoli,  of  equal  force.  She  may  be  said  to 
have  burned  the  Philadelphia,  as,  with  a  very  trifling  exception,  this  duty 
was  performed  by  her  officers  and  men.  She  took  the  Boxer  in  the  En- 
glish war,  and,  notwithstanding  she  sailed  very  badly  after  she  was  rigged 
into  a  brig,  the  enemy  never  could  catch  her. 


HTAVAL  HISTORY.  269 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


SHORTLY  after  the  commencement  of  the  war,  the  enemy 
had  sent  Admiral  Sir  John  Borlase  Warren  to  command 
against  the  little  navy  of  the  republic,  with  Rear-Admiral 
Cockburn,  as  the  next  in  rank.  Several  two-decked  ships 
appeared  on  the  coast,  and  near  a  hundred  British  pennants 
were  assembled  in  the  American  seas.  A  considerable 
force  collected  in  the  Chesapeake,  a  part  of  which  was  kept 
to  watch  the  Constellation,  in  the  manner  mentioned,  while 
the  small  vessels  made  descents  on  the  coast,  or  entered  the 
rivers  and  creeks,  with  which  those  waters  abound,  carry- 
ing on  a  species  of  warfare  that  had  no  other  effect  on  the 
American  nation,  than  to  irritate  the  public  mind,  and  which, 
as  it  regarded  the  enemy,  could  not  have  had  a  very  bene- 
ficial influence  on  their  tone,  while  it  must  have  been  re- 
pugnant to  the  feelings  of  most  of  those  employed  on  duty 
so  much  opposed  to  the  ordinary  habits  of  military  men. 

In  the  early  part  of  June,  1813,  the  enemy  was  thought 
to  have  had  more  than  twenty  sail  of  cruisers,  in  and  about 
the  Chesapeake,  of  which  several  were  ships  of  the  line. 
The  flags  of  the  two  admirals  were  flying  among  them, 
and,  it  was  in  their  presence  that  the  first  of  the  three 
attempts  on  the  Constellation,  which  have  been  already  re- 
lated, was  made.  On  the  18th  three  frigates  came  into 
Hampton  Roads,  and  one  of  them  went  up  nearly  to  the 
quarantine  ground,  sending  her  boats  to  destroy  some  small 

VOL.  II.— 23 


270  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

vessels  in  the  James.  The  next  day  the  flotilla  of  gun-boats 
descended  to  attack  her,  under  the  orders  of  Capt.  Tarbell, 
then  temporarily  in  command  of  the  Constellation.  There 
were  fifteen  boats  in  all,  acting  in  two  divisions,  one  of 
which  was  directed  by  Lieut.  Gardner,  and  the  other  by 
Lieut.  Robert  Henley.  Officers  and  men  were  taken  from 
the  frigate  to  man  them,  including  nearly  all  her  lieutenants 
and  midshipmen.  A  company  of  riflemen  volunteered  to 
join  the  seamen,  and  were  also  distributed  among  the 
boats.  The  weather  prevented  Capt.  Tarbell  from  ap- 
proaching the  enemy,  until  Sunday  the  20th,  when  it  fell 
calm,  and  the  gun-boats  dropped  down  within  a  good  range 
for  their  shot,  and  opened  on  the  upper  frigate,  about  4, 
A.  M.  At  this  time  the  two  other  frigates  were  still  lying 
in  the  Roads. 

The  gun-boats  were  formed  in  a  crescent,  and  a  brisk 
cannonade  was  commenced  on  the  part  of  the  Americans. 
It  was  some  time  before  the  enemy  returned  it,  the  approach 
in  the  dark  and  mist  having  taken  him  completely  by  sur- 
prise. The  flotilla  began  the  action  at  anchor,  but  it  was 
soon  found  impossible  to  keep  the  boats  steady,  and  most  of 
them  weighed,  and  got  out  their  sweeps,  by  means  of  which 
the  guns  were  kept  bearing  in  the  right  direction.  The  de- 
fence of  the  frigate  was  very  feeble,  and  after  discharging 
two  or  three  broadsides,  she  got  under  way,  but  the  wind 
was  too  light  to  enable  her  either  to  close,  or  to  haul  off. 
This  vessel  was  in  a  very  critical  situation,  and  owed  her 
escape  in  a  great  measure  to  her  consorts;  for,  after  a 
severe  cannonade  of  more  than  an  hour,  one  of  the  ships  be- 
low was  enabled  to  close,  when  a  much  sharper  contest  oc- 
curred. But  the  wind  increasing,  and  the  third  ship  draw- 
ing near,  Capt.  Tarbell  made  a  signal  for  the  flotilla  to 
retire. 

In  this  affair,  most  of  the  boats  were  conducted  with 
spirit.  Their  fire  was  well  directed,  and  they  treated  the  up- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  271 

per  ship  quite  roughly.  The  fire  of  this  vessel  was  extremely 
feeble,  and  it  appears  to  have  done  no  execution  whatever. 
That  of  the  second  ship,  however,  was  very  animated,  and 
it  was  particularly  well  directed.  Although  the  loss  of  the 
Americans  in  men  was  small,  consisting  of  only  one  mas- 
ter's mate  killed,  and  two  men  wounded,  the  enemy's  grape 
flew  around  them  in  great  numbers.  One  boa,t  received  a 
bad  shot  between  wind  and  water,  and  several  had  their 
sweeps  shot  away,  or  were  otherwise  injured.  The  gun- 
boat commanded  by  Mr.  Nantz,  sailing  master,  was  crippled, 
and  in  danger  of  being  captured  by  the  enemy,  when,  by 
order  of  Capt.  Tarbell,  she  was  taken  in  tow  by  the  boat 
commanded  by  Lieut.  W.  B.  Shubrick,  of  the  Constellation, 
and  brought  off. 

The  frigate  first  engaged  was  thought  to  be  the  Narcissus 
32,  and  the  vessel  that  came  to  her  relief,  the  Junon  38, 
Capt.  Saunders.  This  experiment  had  the  effect  to  convince 
most  of  the  sea-officers  engaged  on  board  the  gun-boats, 
however,  of  the  bad  qualities  of  that  description  of  vessel, 
they  having  been  very  generally  found  wanting  in  a  suffi- 
cient degree  of  steadiness  to  render  their  fire  certain,  even 
in  smooth  water.  The  recoils  of  the  guns  caused  them  to 
roll  to  a  degree  that  rendered  the  aim  uncertain,  and  it  has 
been  seen  that  they  could  only  be  kept  in  the  proper  posi- 
tions by  the  aid  of  the  sweeps. 

The  next  flood,  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of 
fourteen  sail,  came  into  the  Roads,  and  an  attack  was  ex- 
pected. On  the  20th,  the  enemy's  ships  weighed,  and 
ascended  with  the  tide,  to  the  mouth  of  James'  river,  where, 
in  the  afternoon,  they  were  seen  making  preparations  to 
send  up  a  large  force  in  boats.  As  so  much  depended  on 
the  defence  of  the  batteries  of  Craney  Island,  Capt.  Cassin, 
who  commanded  the  naval  force  at  Norfolk,  sent  three  of 
the  lieutenants  of  the  Constellation,  Messrs.  Neale,  W.  Bran- 
ford  Shubrick,  and  Sanders,  on  shore,  with  100  seamen,  to 


272  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

take  charge  of  the  principal  guns.  This  party  was  sustained 
by  Lieut.  Breckenridge,  of  the  marines,  and  about  50  men 
of  that  gallant  corps.  Most  of  the  officers  of  the  navy  then 
at  Norfolk,  and  who  did  not  belong  to  the  frigate,  were  also 
employed  in  the  gun-boats,  or  about  the  island. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  the  enemy  was  disco- 
vered landing  a  large  force,  round  the  point  of  the  Nanse- 
mond ;  and  about  8  A.  M.,  the  barges  of  the  vessels  of  war 
attempted  to  land  in  front  of  Craney  Island,  at  a  point  where 
they  were  safe  from  the  fire  of  the  gun-boats,  though  ex- 
posed to  that  of  the  seamen's  battery.  Mr.  Neale  now 
opened  his  fire,  which  was  directed  with  great  coolness  and 
precision,  and,  after  having  three  of  his  boats  sunk,  the 
enemy  abandoned  the  attempt.  The  narrative  of  the  re- 
mainder of  the  operations  of  this  day,  belongs  to  the  general 
history  of  the  war,  rather  than  to  a  work  of  this  character. 

The  officers,  seamen  and  marines  of  the  Constellation,  as 
well  as  the  other  portions  of  the  navy  employed  on  this 
occasion,  gained  great  credit  for  their  steadiness,  discipline 
and  spirit.  One  of  the  barges  sunk  was  said  to  have  been 
a  peculiar  boat,  called,  from  the  great  number  of  oars  she 
rowed,  the  Centipede.  She  was  described  as  having  been 
fifty  feet  long,  and  as  having  contained  75  men.  About  40 
prisoners  were  made  from  the  boats  that  were  sunk,  though 
the  total  loss  of  the  enemy  who  were  opposed  to  the  seamen 
and  marines,  is  not  known.  Capt.  Cassin,  in  describing  the 
fire  of  the  seamen's  battery,  observed  that  it  resembled  the 
shooting  of  riflemen.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  enemy 
found  it  much  too  cool  and  direct  to  be  faced. 

The  government  had  fitted  out  several  small  vessels  for 
the  defence  of  the  bays  and  rivers,  and  among  others,  were 
the  Scorpion  and  Asp.  On  the  14th,  these  two  little  cruisers 
got  under  way  from  the  Yeocomico,  and  stood  out  into  the 
river,  when,  at  10  A.  M.,  a  considerable  force  of  the  enemy 
was  seen  in  chase.  The  Scorpion,  on  board  of  which  was 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  273 

the  senior  officer,  immediately  made  a  signal  for  the  Asp  to 
act  at  discretion,  and  began  to  beat  up  the  river.  The  Asp 
being  a  dull  sailer,  her  commander,  Mr.  Sigourney,  thought 
it  expedient  to  re-enter  the  creek.  He  was  followed  by  two 
brigs,  which  anchored  off  the  bar,  and  hoisted  out  their 
boats.  Mr.  Sigourney  now  deemed  it  more  prudent  to  run 
higher  up  the  Yeocomico ;  and  as  the  enemy  was  already 
pulling  in,  he  cut  his  cable,  and  made  sail.  Three  boats  soon 
after  attacked  the  Asp,  which  made  a  very  gallant  defence, 
and  handsomely  beat  them  off.  The  enemy,  however,  rein- 
forced, and  renewed  the  attack  with  five  boats,  when  Mr. 
Sigourney  ran  the  Asp  on  shore,  and  was  boarded  by  about 
50  men,  who  succeeded  in  carrying  her.  She  was  set  on 
fire  and  abandoned,  but  Mr.  M'Clintock,  the  officer  second 
in  command,  got  on  board  her  again,  and  succeeded  in  ex- 
tinguishing the  flames.  In  this  affair,  Mr.  Sigourney  was 
killed,  dying  sword  in  hand,  in  defence  of  his  vessel,  in  a 
manner  to  reflect  the  highest  credit  on  his  professional  train- 
ing and  personal  gallantry.*  The  Asp  had  but  two  or  three 
light  guns,  and  a  crew  of  21  souls.  Of  the  latter,  10  were 
killed,  wounded  and  missing:  facts  that  attest  the  gallantry 
of  the  defence. 

While  these  events  were  occurring  at  the  south,  some 
movements  farther  north  brought  a  part  of  the  enemy's 
force  within  the  waters  of  Long  Island  Sound,  where,  with 
occasional  changes  of  ships,  it  continued  to  the  close  of  the 
war.  After  the  United  States  had  refitted  at  New  York, 
on  her  return  from  the  cruise  in  which  she  had  captured  the 
Macedonian,  Com.  Decatur  prepared  to  sail,  again,  with  the 
latter  frigate  in  company.  The  Hornet  being  about  to  go 

*  Mr.  Sigourney  was  from  Boston,  and  had  served  as  a  midshipman 
under  Lawrence,  in  whose  school  he  obtained  his  notions  of  duty.  Few 
persons  discovered  more  aptitude  for  the  profession  than  this  young  gen- 
tleman, who,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  had  been  but  five  years  in  the 
service.  His  age  must  have  been  about  21. 

23* 


274  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

to  sea,  at  the  same  time,  in  order  to  join  the  Chesapeake, 
Capt.  Lawrence,  the  three  vessels  got  under  way,  and  passed 
Hell  Gate  on  the  27th  of  May,  with  a  view  to  run  off  the 
coast  between  Montauk  and  Block  Island.  It  was  June  the 
llth,  before  the  ships  found  an  opportunity  to  pass  through 
the  Race ;  but  they  were  met  near  the  end  of  the  island  by 
a  greatly  superior  force,  and  were  chased  into  New-London. 
Here  all  three  of  the  vessels  were  closely  blockaded,  nor  was 
either  of  the  frigates  able  to  get  to  sea  during  the  remainder 
of  the  war,  though  opportunities  were  long  and  anxiously 
sought.  In  the  end,  their  officers  and  people  were  trans- 
ferred to  other  vessels.  It  will  give  an  idea  of  the  great 
importance  that  ought  to  be  attached  to  the  means  of  rais- 
ing blockades,  when  it  is  remembered  that,  while  watching 
the  three  American  vessels  which  then  lay  in  the  Thames, 
above  New-London,  the  enemy  also  had  it  in  his  power  to 
blockade  the  most  important  point  on  the  continent,  con- 
nected with  the  coasting  trade. 

About  this  time,  also,  a  small  brig  called  the  Viper,  which 
had  been  put  into  the  service,  under  the  orders  of  Lieut. 
John  D.  Henley,  was  taken  by  the  Narcissus  32,  under  cir- 
cumstances that  require  no  particular  description.  Mr. 
Henley,  as  well  as  Mr.  Crane,  of  the  Nautilus,  Mr.  Nichol- 
son, of  the  Siren,  Mr.  Watson,  of  the  Argus,  Mr.  Renshaw, 
of  the  Rattlesnake,  Capt.  Reed,  of  the  Vixen,  and  all  the 
officers  and  men  under  their  orders,  were  found,  by  regular 
courts  of  inquiry,  to  have  done  their  duty  on  the  several 
occasions  in  which  they  had  lost  the  different  vessels  named. 

The  U.  S.  schooner  Ferret,  Lieut.  Kearney,  another  of 
the  little  vessels  employed  on  the  southern  coast,  in  order 
to  protect  the  bays,  rivers,  sounds,  and  inlets,  was  lost  in 
February,  1814,  on  the  breakers  of  Stoney  Inlet,  but  her 
people  were  all  saved. 

In  January,  of  the  same  year,  the  Alligator,  another 
small  schooner,  commanded  by  Mr.  Basset,  a  sailing  mas- 
ter, was  lying  at  anchor  off  the  coast,  abreast  of  Cole's 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  275 

/     .       . 

Island,  and  observing  an  enemy's  frigate  and  brig,  just 
without  the  breakers,  Mr.  Basset  suspected  that  an  attempt 
would  be  made  on  him  in  the  course  of  the  night.  Prepara- 
tions to  receive  the  enemy  were  made  accordingly.  About 
half  past  7  in  the  evening,  six  boats  were  discovered,  under 
cover  of  the  marsh  grass,  pulling  up  with  muffled  oars. 
When  near  enough,  they  were  hailed,  and  a  musket  was 
fired  at  them.  The  boats  now  made  a  general  discharge  of 
musketry  and  grape,  which  the  Alligator  immediately  re- 
turned. The  schooner  then  cut  her  cable,  and  availing 
herself  of  a  light  breeze,  she  was  immediately  brought  under 
command  of  her  helm.  By  this  promptitude,  Mr.  Basset 
succeeded  in  beating  off  his  assailants,  notwithstanding  the 
schooner  soon  after  grounded.  The  Alligator  had  2  men  kill- 
ed, and  2  wounded,  while  the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  never 
known.  The  schooner  had  but  40  men  on  board,  while  the 
boats  are  thought  to  have  contained  about  100.  Of  the  lat- 
ter, the  loss  must  have  been  severe,  or  they  would  not  have 
abandoned  the  attack,  after  the  Alligator  had  grounded. 
The  firing  continued  half  an  hour,  and  the  schooner  was  a 
good  deal  cut  up  in  her  sails  and  rigging.  A  large  cutter, 
that  was  supposed  to  have  been  one  of  the  boats  of  the 
enemy  on  this  occasion,  was  shortly  after  picked  up  on 
North  Edisto,  much  injured  by  shot.  The  bodies  of  one 
officer  and  of  a  common  seaman  were  also  found  near  by. 
The  former  had  lost  an  arm,  besides  receiving  a  musket- 
shot  wound.  Mr.  Basset  was  promoted  for  his  gallantry. 

We  will  connect  the  incidents  that  relate  to  the  Alligator, 
by  recording  here,  a  singular  accident  that  not  long  after 
befell  her.  After  refitting,  she  returned  to  her  cruising 
ground,  under  Mr.  Basset;  and  July  1st,  1814,  while  lying 
in  Port  Royal  Sound,  off  the  island  of  St.  Simons,  on  the 
coast  of  Georgia,  a  black  cloud  was  seen  rapidly  approach- 
ing from  the  direction  of  the  continent.  As  this  gust  had 
every  appearance  of  a  tornado,  Mr.  Basset,  certain  it  would 


V 


276  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

capsize  his  schooner,  unless  avoided  by  getting  before  the 
wind,  cut  his  cable,  got  the  head  of  his  jib  up,  and  endea- 
voured to  run  the  Alligator  ashore.  The  vessel  was  no 
sooner  dead  before  the  wind,  than  she  was  struck  by  a  tre- 
mendous gust,  which  she  withstood;  when,  believing  the  dan- 
ger over,  Mr.  Basset  ordered  the  helm  down,  and  the  small 
bower  let  go.  This  brought  the  vessel  up.  In  about  ten  mi- 
nutes, however,  she  was  struck  by  another  gust,  and  the 
second  cable  was  cut.  Unhappily,  it  was  useless,  for  this  new 
effort  of  the  wind  whirled  the  Alligator  round  and  round, 
and  upset  her,  as  if  she  had  been  a  shell.  The  schooner 
filled  and  sunk  in  four  fathoms'  water,  with  her  head  to  the 
eastward.  Unfortunately,  a  cutter  that  was  lying  on  one 
side  of  the  deck,  was  thrown  over  to  the  other,  killing  or 
desperately  wounding  many  persons,  and  catching  Messrs. 
Brailesford  and  Rogerson,  midshipmen,  beneath  it.  These 
two  gentlemen,  and  17  men,  were  known  to  have  been 
drowned;  4  were  missing,  who  most  probably  shared 
the  same  fate,  and  16  persons  were  saved.  The  Alligator 
was  subsequently  raised: 

The  in-shore  war  at  the  south  was  distinguished  by  many 
other  little  exploits,  resembling  those  already  related ;  one 
of  which,  that  was  performed  under  the  eyes  of  Capt.  Dent, 
who  commanded  at  Charleston,  is  deserving  of  particular 
notice.  Although  it  will  be  advancing  the  time  to  a  period 
near  the  close  of  the  war,  it  may  be  related  here,  with  a 
view  to  present  to  the  reader  most  of  these  isolated  in- 
stances of  gallantry  in  one  picture. 

In  January,  1815,  while  Capt.  Dent  was  at  the  North 
Edist6,  he  obtained  information  that  a  party  of  officers 
and  men,  belonging  to  the  Hebrus,  Capt.  Palmer,  was 
watering  on  one  of  the  islands  of  the  vicinity,  and  he 
directed  Mr.  Lawrence  Kearny  to  proceed  outside,  with 
three  barges,  to  cut  them  off,  while  a  party  of  militia  en- 
deavoured to  assail  them  by  land.  The  frigate  was  at 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  277 

anchor,  out  of  gun-shot ;  but  as  soon  as  she  perceived  the 
design  of  the  Americans,  she  fired  guns,  and  made  other 
signals  of  recall,  when  two  of  the  boats  pulled  towards  her, 
and  a  tender,  that  contained  a  strong  party,  attempted  to 
run  out  also.  Fortunately,  the  wind  shifted,  bringing  the 
Hebrus  to  windward  of  the  American  barges,  it  is  true, 
but  the  tender  to  leeward  of  them.  Discovering  his  ad- 
vantage, Mr.  Kearny  determined  to  make  a  dash  at  the 
latter,  regardless  of  the  frigate,  and  of  the  two  boats  that 
were  pulling  off.  The  Hebrus,  perceiving  the  danger 
in  which  her  tender  was  placed,  now  made  the  greatest 
exertions  to  save  her.  Shot  were  fired  at  her  own  cutters, 
to  drive  them  back  to  the  assistance  of  the  tender ;  and  a 
third  boat  was  sent  from  the  frigate,  with  the  same  object. 
She  also  opened  her  fire  on  the  American  barges,  with  some 
effect,  one  of  her  shot  taking  off  the  head  of  a  man,  at  Mr. 
Kearny's  side.  But  this  gallant  officer,  disregarding  every 
thing  but  his  object,  laid  the  tender  aboard  in  the  steadiest 
manner,  and  carried  her  off,  directly  under  the  guns  of 
the  frigate  to  which  she  belonged.  The  Hebrus'  launch 
was  also  taken,  her  people  having  hurried  on  board  the 
tender,  when  the  alarm  was  given.  The  latter  had  a  car- 
ronade  and  six  brass  swivels  in  her,  besides  other  arms. 

Mr.  Kearny  made  about  40  prisoners  on  this  occasion. 
The  Hebrus  intercepting  his  return,  by  the  way  he  had 
come  out,  he  carried  his  prize  to  the  South  Edisto. 

A  few  days  later,  Mr.  Kearny,  in  the  launch  of  the  He- 
brus, with  a  crew  of  25  men,  went  out  and  captured  a  ten- 
der belonging  to  the  Severn,  having  on  board  between  30 
and  40  men.  Handsomer  exploits  of  the  sort,  were  not 
performed  in  the  war.* 

*  The  services  and  professional  character  of  Capt.  Kearny,  who  is 
still  living1,  are  much  better  known  to  the  navy  than  to  the  country.  This 
gentleman  was  put  in  situations  of  command  and  responsibility,  soon  after 
he  entered  the  service  in  1807  ;  and  while  a  lieutenant,  he  probably  had 


278  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

To  this  list  of  the  minor  conflicts,  may  be  added  an  at- 
tack on  gun-boat  No.  160,  commanded  by  Mr.  Paine.  This 
officer,  who  then  held  the  rank  of  sailing  master,  was  con- 
voying a  number  of  coasters  from  Savannah  to  St.  Mary's, 
when  an  expedition,  consisting  of  a  tender  full  of  men,  and 
ten  boats,  attacked  him  in  St.  Andrew's  Sound,  about  3  A. 
M.,  of  the  6th  of  October,  1814.  After  a  short  cannonad- 
ing, and  a  sharp  discharge  of  musketry  that  lasted  about  20 
minutes,  the  enemy  closed,  and  carried  the  boat  by  board- 
ing. There  were  but  16  men  fit  for  duty,  in  No.  160,  at  the 
time;  her  entire  complement  consisting  of  30  souls.  Mr. 
Paine  was  badly  wounded,  as  were  two  of  his  people.  The 
enemy  suffered  severely,  the  defence  having  been  spirited 
and  obstinate.* 

A  short  notice  of  the  warfare  in  the  Delaware,  properly 
occurs  next.  This  bay  had  no  longer  the  importance  it  pos- 
sessed in  the  war  of  1775.  Then,  Philadelphia  was  both  the 
commercial  and  political  capital  of  the  country,  but  it  had 
now  lost  the  latter  distinction,  and  in  the  way  of  shipping, 
several  ports  were  fast  outstripping  it.  The  enemy,  con- 
sequently, paid  much  less  attention  to  these  waters  than  to; 
those  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  to  other  points  of  more  interest. \ 
The  length  of  the  river,  too,  added  to  the  security  of  the 
places  that  lie  on  its  banks,  and  there  was  little  apprehen- 
sion of  any  serious  descent.  Still  a  flotilla,  consisting  of 
gun-boats  and  block-sloops,  had  been  equipped,  and  it  was 

commanded  vessels  longer  than  any  captain  then  on  the  list.  He  command- 
ed the  Enterprise  many  years,  as  a  lieutenant;  and  before  he  was  made  a 
master  and  commander,  had  passed  about  ten  years  in  separate  com- 
mands. In  the  Mediterranean,  at  a  much  later  day,  it  was  said  of  this  offi- 
cer, that  his  ship,  the  Warren  20,  had  done  more  to  suppress  piracy 
than  all  the  other  vessels,  French,  English,  American,  and  Russian,  united. 
Capt.  Kearny's  mother  was  a  sister  of  the  regretted  Lawrence,  whose 
family  name  he  bears. 

*  Mr.  Paine  was  promoted  for  his  good  conduct,  and  is  now  a  com- 
mander. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  279 

put  under  the  orders  of  Lieut.  Angus,  an  officer  of  tried 
spirit. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  1813,  Mr.  Angus  learned  that  an  en- 
emy's sloop  of  war  had  come  round  the  cape,  and  he  drop- 
ped down  to  reconnoitre,  with  eight  gun-boats  and  two 
block-sloops.  The  sloop  of  war  had  grounded  on  the  out- 
side of  Crow's  shoals,  and  it  was  determined  to  attack  her. 
Before  the  flotilla  could  get  in  order,  however,  a  frigate  came 
in,  and  anchored  within  supporting  distance  of  the  sloop. 
At  length  all  the  boats  but  one,  No.  121,  Mr.  Shead,  were 
in  their  stations,  and  the  cannonading  commenced.  No. 
121  had  unfortunately  drifted  a  mile  and  a  half  from  her 
consorts,  and,  though  she  kept  sweeping,  no  exertions  could 
get  her  back  into  the  line.  After  a  sharp  cannonade  of 
more  than  an  hour,  the  British  vessels  sent  eight  boats,  with 
a  strong  party  of  men,  against  the  straggler.  Finding  all 
his  efforts  to  regain  the  line  ineffectual,  Mr.  Shead  anchored, 
and  prepared  to  receive  the  enemy,  with  a  coolness  that 
was  very  creditable.  As  soon  as  his  boat  was  steady,  Mr. 
Shead  fired  at  the  enemy.  At  the  first  discharge,  the 
pintle  of  the  gun  gave  way.  Notwithstanding  this  acci- 
dent, a  second  shot  was  fired,  and  with  effect,  but  the  gun- 
carriage  was  nearly  torn  to  pieces.  Mr.  Shead  loaded 
again,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  an  accidental  range,  but 
without  success.  In  the  mean  time,  the  enemy  steadily  ad- 
vanced, keeping  up  a  warm  fire  from  his  boat-guns  and  small 
arms,  and  the  people  of  No.  121  prepared  to  repel  board- 
ers. The  overwhelming  force  of  the  assailants,  however, 
rendered  resistance  useless,  and  the  English  soon  covered 
the  decks  of  the  gun-boat,  her  people  being  driven  below. 

The  enemy's  ships  were  the  Junon  38,  and  Martin  16  ; 
and  their  loss  was  7  killed  and  12  wounded.  No.  121  had 
7  men  wounded. 

During  the  summer  of  1813,  after  the  capture  of  the 
Chesapeake,  the  American  government  had  but  three  fri- 


280  NAVAL  H1STORF. 

gates  at  sea;  the  President  44,  the  Congress  38,  and  the 
Essex  32.  The  Constitution  44,  was  undergoing  repairs ; 
the  Constellation  38,  was  blockaded  at  Norfolk,  and  the 
United  States  44,  and  Macedonian  38,  were  closely  watch- 
ed in  the  Thames,  at  New  London.  The  Adams  28,  was 
undergoing  repairs  and  alterations;  the  John  Adams  28, 
after  having  been  once  cut  down,  and  once  raised  upon, 
had  been  laid  up,  as  unfit  to  cruise  in  such  a  war.  She  was 
subsequently  cut  down  a  second  time,  but  was  not  yet  in  a 
condition  to  go  to  sea;  and  the  New  York  36,  and  Boston 
28,  were  virtually  condemned.  The  war  had  continued 
but  little  more  than  a  year,  when  all  the  brigs  were  cap- 
tured, with  the  exception  of  the  Enterprise,  which,  as  has 
been  already  stated,  was  no  longer  trusted  at  sea. 

The  loss  of  the  small  vessels  induced  professional  men  to 
reflect  on  the  causes,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  the  better 
opinion,  that  too  many  guns  were  crowded  upon  them,  and 
that  they  were  over-manned.     The  great  number  of  peo- 
ple on  board,  in  particular,  helped  to  impede  their  sailing, 
by  compelling  the  vessels  to  take  in  a  larger  stock  of  pro- 
visions and  supplies  than  they  were  originally  intended  to 
carry,  bringing  them  too  low  in  the  water;  the  lightness  of  | 
their  frames,  and  their  sharpness,  rendering  it  impossible  to 
dispense  with  a  corresponding  weight  of  iron  ballast.     Had 
these  vessels  remained  schooners,  with  crews  of  70  or  80 
men,  and  their  original  armaments,  their  chances  for  run- 
ning would  probably  have  been  much  increased.    It  should 
be  remembered,  however,  that  a  small  cruiser  is  always 
much  more  liable  to  being  captured  than  a  large  one,  as  a 
frigate  is  of  sufficient  force  to  defeat  the  attempts  of  more 
than  half  the  vessels  of  war  that  are  usually  fallen  in  with 
at  sea. 

The  administration  manifested  prudence  and  foresight, 
in  the  class  of  vessels  that  were  now  constructed  to  su- 
persede the  smaller  cruisers,  sloops  of  war  of  a  size  and 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  281 

force  that  were  sufficient  to  resist  any  thing  beneath  the 
smaller  frigates,  having  been  laid  down.  These  vessels  were 
large  enough  to  carry  sail  hard,  while  their  crews  bore  no 
proportion  to  those  of  the  little  craft  mentioned.  Of  nearly 
three  times  their  tonnage,  they  did  not  carry  twice  the 
number  of  people  of  the  latter,  and,  of  course,  were  enabled 
to  dispense  with  a  proportionate  amount  of  stores.  In  the 
end,  their  good  qualities  were  made  manifest ;  and  had  hos- 
tilities continued  for  any  length  of  time,  it  is  probable,  that 
the  large  class  sloop  of  war  would  have  been  found  to  be 
the  most  serviceable  vessel  the  country  could  have  employ- 
ed, in  the  absence  of  a  force  sufficient  to  keep  the  coast 
entirely  clear  of  the  enemy. 


VOL.  II.— 24 


282  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


THE  Guerriere  44,  the  first  frigate  that  had  been  put  into 
the  water,  on  the  sea-board,  by  the  American  government, 
since  the  year  1801,  was  launched  at  Philadelphia,  June  the 
20th,  1814.  It  was  intended  that  the  Independence  74  should 
have  gone  off  the  same  day,  at  Boston,  but  she  stuck  on 
the  ways.  She  was  got  safely  into  the  water  on  the  20th  of 
July,  however,  and  was  the  first  two-decked  ship  that  ever 
properly  belonged  to  the  American  navy ;  the  America  74 
having  been  given  to  the  king  of  France,  while  yet  on  the 
stocks.  The  Java  44  soon  followed,  at  Baltimore.  Com. 
Rodgers  was  appointed  to  the  Guerriere,  Com.  Bainbridge 
to  the  Independence,  and  Capt.  Perry  to  the  Java.  These 
were  the  only  large  vessels  that  were  launched  on  the  Atlantic 
during  the  war,  though  the  keels  of  the  Franklin  74,  Wash- 
ington 74,  and  Columbia  44,  were  laid,  and  the  two  first 
ships  were  eventually  got  afloat;  the  Franklin  in  1815,  and 
the  Washington  in  the  succeeding  year. 

The  new  sloops  of  war  began  to  go  to  sea  in  the  course 
of  this  summer.  The  Frolic  18,  Capt.  Bainbridge,  had  a 
short  career,  having  been  chased  and  captured,  on  the  20th 
of  April,  1814,  by  the  Orpheus  36,  Capt.  Pigot,  soon  afte 
she  got  out.  There  was  no  action,  the  Frolic  having  throwi 
most  of  her  guns  overboard  in  the  chase. 

The  Adams  28  had  been  cut  down  to  a  sloop  of  war  and 
lengthened,  at  Washington,  so  as  to  mount  28  guns  on  one 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  283 

deck,  under  the  law  of  1812,  She  succeeded  in  passing  the 
enemy's  ships  in  Lynnhaven  Bay,  on  the  night  of  the  18th 
of  January,  1814,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Morris,  an 
officer  whose  career  has  been  incidentally  traced  from  the 
rank  of  midshipman  up  to  that  which  he  now  held.  The 
Adams  ran  off  east,  to  get  into  the  track  of  the  English 
East-Indiamen,  and  she  made  several  prizes  of  no  great 
value.  On  the  25th  of  March,  however,  she  captured  the 
Woodbridge,  Indiaman,  and  while  taking  possession,  the 
weather  clearing  up,  Capt.  Morris  found  himself  directly  to 
leeward  of  twenty-five  sail,  with  two  vessels  of  war,  one  of 
which  was  a  heavy  ship,  running  down  for  him.  The  prize 
was  necessarily  abandoned,  and  the  Adams  was  chased  until 
the  following  day,  when  the  enemy  resumed  his  course.  The 
Adams  continued  her  cruise,  going  into  Savannah,  in  April, 
for  supplies.  On  the  5th  of  May,  she  sailed  again,  going  off 
the  Mantilla  Reef,  in  waiting  for  the  Jamaica  convoy,  which, 
unfortunately,  passed  her  in  the  night.  The  Adams,  on  as- 
certaining this  fact,  gave  chase,  and  got  in  sight  of  the  fleet, 
but  was  driven  off  by  two  vessels  of  war.  By  no  artifice 
could  Capt.  Morris  cut  a  vessel  out,  however,  the  ships  sail- 
ing in  the  closest  possible  order,  and  the  cruisers  in  com- 
pany manifesting  great  vigilance. 

The  Adams  now  stood  to  the  northward  and  eastward, 
falling  in  with  much  ice,  and  thick  weather,  in  the  latitude 
of  New- York.  On  the  3d  of  July,  she  made  the  Irish  coast, 
and  on  the  4th,  she  chased  two  vessels  into  the  mouth  of  the 
Shannon.  The  thick  weather  was  much  against  the  Adams, 
and  she  ran  more  to  the  southward.  In  lat.  49°,  long.  10°, 
an  enemy's  frigate  was  made  on  the  lee  bow,  and  a  hard 
chase  ensued.  By  sunset  the  frigate  was  nearly  within  gun- 
shot, and  the  wind  being  light,  the  Adams  cut  away  her 
anchors,  and  threw  overboard  two  guns.  In  the  course  of 
the  night  it  fell  calm,  and  Capt.  Morris,  who  had  partici- 
pated so  largely  in  the  escape  of  the  Constitution,  got  out 


284  KAVAL  HISTORY. 

his  boats  to  tow.  As  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Adams  (Mr. 
Wadsworth)  had  been  the  second  lieutenant  with  Capt. 
Hull,  on  that  celebrated  occasion,  these  officers  employed 
their  time  so  well,  during  the  night,  that  when  the  day 
dawned,  the  enemy  was  near  two  leagues  astern.  This 
industry  probably  saved  the  ship,  for  the  frigate  proved  to 
be  very  fast,  nor  did  she  give  up  the  chase  until  10  the 
succeeding  night,  when  the  Adams  altered  her  course,  and 
escaped. 

Shortly  after,  the  Adams  was  chased  by  two  more  fri- 
gates, one  of  which  was  on  her  lee  bow,  and  the  other  on 
her  beam.  The  last  of  these  vessels  continued  just  out  of 
gun-shot,  near  twenty-four  hours,  when  she  was  avoided, 
also,  by  changing  the  course  in  the  night.  The  ship  had 
now  been  near  two  months  in  a  cold,  foggy,  damp  atmos- 
phere, and  the  scurvy  made  its  appearance  on  board.  So 
many  men  were  seized  with  this  terrible  disease,  that  Capt. 
Morris  deemed  it  prudent  to  go  into  port.  At  4  A.  M.,  on 
the  17th  of  August,  in  very  thick  weather,  the  Adams  ran  - 
ashore  on  the  Isle  of  Haute,  but  was  got  off  by  lightening. 
It  was  found,  however,  that  she  made  nine  feet  of  water  in  '| 
an  hour,  and  Capt.  Morris  succeeded  in  getting  her  into  the 
Penobscot,  in  Maine,  as  high  up  as  Hampden,  which  is 
several  miles  above  Castine. 

While  the  Adams  lay  ready  to  be  hove  out,  with  nothing 
in  her,  a  strong  expedition  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of 
troops  and  vessels  of  war,  entered  the  river,  and  ascended 
as  high  as  Hampden.  A  small  force  of  militia  was  assem- 
bled, and  a  battery  was  mounted  with  the  guns  of  the  ship, 
in  order  to  protect  her;  but  the  irregular  troops  giving  way, 
and  leaving  the  seamen  and  marines  exposed  in  the  rear,  the 
first  without  muskets,  nothing  remained  but  to  set  the  vessel 
on  fire,  and  to  make  a  retreat.  All  the  service  connected 
•with  the  ship  was  performed  in  the  most  orderly  and  credit- 
able manner,  until  a  part  of  the  country  was  reached  where 

i.    .  "•""    '  ..'is 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  285 

it  was  found  impossible  to  subsist  the  men  in  a  body,  on 
account  of  the  distance  between  the  habitations,  when  the 
people  were  directed  to  break  up.  into  small  parties,  and  to 
make  the  best  of  their  way  to  Portland.  It  is  a  fact  worthy 
of  being  recorded,  that  every  man  rejoined  his  commander, 
according  to  orders,  though  a  fatiguing  march  of  two  hun- 
dred miles  was  necessary  to  do  so.  Capt.  Morris  showed 
great  resources,  in  these  trying  circumstances ;  and  Messrs. 
Wadsworth,  Madison,  Parker,  and  Beatty,  the  lieutenants  of 
the  ship,  Mr.  Watson,  of  the  marine  corps,  and  Mr.  Rogers, 
the  purser,  were  exceedingly  active  and  useful.  Indeed, 
all  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Adams  appear  to  have  be- 
haved more  than  commonly  well.  But  one  seaman  and  one 
marine  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands. 

The  ship  had  made  many  prizes  during  this  cruise,  most 
of  which  were  destroyed. 

While  the  Adams  was  thus  running  the  chances  of 
chases  and  shipwreck,  the  Wasp  18,  Capt.  Blakely,  sailed 
from  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  on  a  cruise.  This  was  one  of 
,the  new  sloops  of  war  already  mentioned,  and  the  name  of 
the  favourite  vessel,  captured  by  the  Poictiers,  had  been 
given  to  her.  A  letter  from  Capt.  Blakely  announced  that 
he  was  in  the  offing,  on  the  1st  of  May,  1814,  with  a  fine 
breeze  at  N.  W.  He  ran  off  the  coast  without  molestation, 
and  soon  appeared  near  the  chops  of  the  English  Channel, 
where  he  began  to  repeat  the  ravages  caused  by  the  Argus. 
The  position  of  the  ship  now  exacted  the  utmost  vigilance, 
as  she  was  in  the  very  track  of  the  enemy.  At  a  quar- 
ter past  4  A.  M.,  on  the  28th  of  June,  1814,  the  Wasp,  then 
cruising  in  lat.  48°  36'  N.,  long.  11°  15'  W.,  made  two  sail, 
a  little  forward  of  the  lee  beam.  The  weather  was  fine,  the 
wind  light,  and  the  water  exceedingly  smooth  for  that  sea. 
After  keeping  away  in  chase,  another  stranger  was  disco- 
vered on  the  weather  beam,  when  the  ship  was  immediately 
brought  by  the  wind,  in  order  to  close  with  her,  it  being 

24* 


286  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

obviously  expedient  for  the  American  vessel  to  select  the 
antagonist  that  had  the  most  weatherly  position.  At  10,  the 
chase  showed  English  colours,  and  began  to  make  signals. 
At  noon,  her  signals  were  repeated,  and  she  fired  a  gun. 
The  Wasp  did  not  go  to  quarters  until  15  minutes  past  1; 
and  soon  after,  believing  he  could  weather  the  chase,  Capt. 
Blakely  tacked.  The  stranger  also  tacked,  however,  and 
stood  off,  no  doubt  to  preserve  the  weather  gage.  The  Wasp 
now  showed  her  ensign,  and  fired  a  gun  to  windward.  The 
enemy,  a  large  man-of-war  brig,  gallantly  answered  this 
defiance.  The  Wasp  immediately  set  her  light  canvass  to 
close,  when,  at  32  minutes  past  2,  the  enemy  tacked,  and 
began  to  draw  hear.  The  American  now  took  in  her  light 
sails,  and  tacked  in  her  turn ;  the  English  vessel  still  main- 
taining her  weatherly  position,  and  making  sail  to  close. 

At  17  minutes  past  3,  the  enemy  was  on  the  weather 
quarter  of  the  Wasp,  distant  about  sixty  yards,  when  he  fired 
his  shifting-gun,  a  twelve-pound  carronade  mounted  on  a  top- 
gallant forecastle.     Two  minutes  later,  he  fired  again;  and 
the  discharges  were  repeated  until  the  gun  had  been  deli- 
berately fired  five  times  into  the  Wasp,  at  that  short  dis- 
tance, and  in  unusually  smooth  water.     All  this  time  the 
Wasp  could  not  bring  a  gun  to  bear;  and  finding  that  the 
enemy  drew  ahead  very  slowly,  Capt.  Blakely  put  his  helm 
down,  and  made  a  half-board,  firing  from  aft  forward,  as 
the  guns  bore.   He  now  hauled  up  the  mainsail,  and  the  tw< 
ships  being  necessarily  very  near,  every  shot  told.     But  lh« 
fire  of  the  Wasp  was  too  heavy  to  be  borne,  and  the  brig 
ran  her  aboard,  on  her  starboard  quarter,  at  40  minutes  pas 
3;  her  larboard  bow  coming  foul.    The  English  now  made 
several  trials  to  enter  the  Wasp,  led  by  their  commander 
in  person,  but  were  repulsed  with  steadiness  and  without 
confusion.     Two  or  three  desperate  efforts  were  made,  but 
with  the  same  want  of  success,  when,  at  44  minutes  past 
Capt.  Blakely  gave  the  order,  in  turn*  to  go  on  board  the 


KTAVAL  HISTORY.  287 

Englishman,  and  in  one  minute  his  flag  was  lowered.  On 
the  part  of  the  enemy,  this  action  lasted  28  minutes ;  on 
the  part  of  the  Wasp,  19  minutes,  including  the  time  em- 
ployed in  boarding. 

The  prize  was  his  Britannic  Majesty's  sloop  of  war  Rein- 
deer 18,  Capt.  Manners.  The  Reindeer  was  an  ordinary 
thirty-two-pounder  brig,  but,  like  the  Peacock,  her  arma- 
ment, when  taken,  was  of  twenty-four-pound  carronades. 
She  mounted  18  guns,  besides  the  shifting  carronade,  and 
had  a  complement  on  board  of  118  souls.  Her  loss  was 
25  killed,  and  42  wounded ;  10  of  the  latter  dangerously. 
Among  the  slain  was  Capt.  Manners ;  and  the  first  lieute- 
nant and  master  were  wounded.  The  Wasp  had  5  men 
killed,  and  22  wounded.  Two  midshipmen,  both  of  whom 
subsequently  died,  were  among  the  latter.  The  Reindeer 
was  literally  cut  to  pieces,  in  a  line  with  her  ports;  her 
upper  works,  boats  and  spare-spars  being  one  entire  wreck. 
A  breeze  springing  up  next  day,  her  foremast  fell.  The 
Wasp  was  hulled  six  times,  and  she  was  filled  with  grape. 
The  principal  loss  she  sustained  in  men,  however,  was  in 
repelling  the  attempt  to  board. 

It  is  difficult  to  say  which  vessel  behaved  the  best,  in  this 
short  but  gallant  combat.  The  officers  and  people  of  the 
Wasp,  discovered  the  utmost  steadiness,  a  cool  activity, 
and  an  admirable  discipline.  For  eleven  minutes,  they 
bore  the  fire  of  a  twelve-pounder,  that  was  discharging 
round  and  grape,  at  a  distance  varying  from  60  to  30  yards, 
with  a  subordination  and  quiet,  that  could  not  possibly  be 
surpassed;  and  when  it  did  commence,  their. own  fire  was 
terrible.  The  attempts  to  carry  their  ship  were  repulsed 
with  ease  and  coolness,  and  when  the  order  to  go  on 
board  the  enemy  was  received,  it  was  obeyed  with  decision 
and  promptitude.  Throughout  the  whole  affair,  the  ship 
was  conspicuous  for  the  qualities  that  most  denote  a  perfect 
man-of-war,  and  the  results  of  her  efforts  were  in  propor- 


288  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

tion.  It  is  believed,  notwithstanding,  that  this  ship  had  an 
unusual  number  of  men  on  board  of  her,  who  were  now  at 
sea  for  the  first  time. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  attack  of  the  Reindeer  has 
usually  been  considered  the  most  creditable  to  the  enemy 
of  any  that  occurred  in  this  war.  It  is  scarcely  possible 
that  the  English  could  have  mistaken  a  ship,  with  the  air 
and  style  of  the  Wasp,  for  a  privateer ;  and  Capt.  Manners, 
in  engaging  her,  like  Capt.  Allen  of  the  Argus,  must  have 
been  conscious  that  he  was  going  into  action  with  a  vessel 
heavier  than  his  own.  The  mode  in  which  he  approached, 
was  exceedingly  officer-like ;  and  when  he  discovered  the 
hopelessness  of  contending  against  the  fire  to  which  he 
found  himself  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  exposed,  the 
decision  and  gallantry  with  which  he  attempted  to  retrieve 
the  day  by  boarding,  was  of  the  highest  order  of  military 
and  personal  merit.  It  is  understood,  that  the  enemy  had 
endeavoured  to  persuade  himself  that  the  Chesapeake  had 
been  captured  by  his  superior  prowess,  in  hand  to  hand  con- 
flicts ;  a  delusion  so  general  in  Great  Britairi,  as  has  been 
already  stated,  that  it  has  frequently  led  tneir  officers  into 
serious  disasters  in  America ;  and  it  is  possible  that  the 
commander  of  the  Reindeer  may  have  believed  his  crew, 
which  is  said  to  have  been  better  th'an  common,  able  to 
carry  the  Wasp  in  this  manner.  The  result  showed  the 
difference  between  a  crew  that  was  well  commanded,  and 
one  that  had  no  leaders,  but  in  no  degree  detracts  from  the 
merit  of  the  English?  officer,  whose  personal  deportment  in 
this  affair,  is  described  as  having  been  worthy  of  all  praise.* 

*  Capt.  Manners  received  three  wounds  before  the  attempt  to  board, 
one  shot  having1  nearly  carried  away  the  calves  of  both  leg's.  In  endea- 
vouring- to  board,  he  sprang  into  the  rigging1  of  his  own  vessel,  when  he 
was  struck  on  the  upper  part  of  the  head  by  two  musket  balls,  which 
passed  through  to  the  chin.  Flourishing-  his  sword,  he  fell  dead  on  his 
own  deck. 


NAVAL  HISTORV.  289 

Capt.  Blakely  put  a  portion  of  his  wounded  prisoners  on 
board  a  neutral,  and  proceeded  himself  to  1'Orient,  where 
he  arrived  on  the  8th  of  July,  with  the  remainder.  The 
prize  was  burned,  on  account  of  the  great  danger  of  re- 
capture. 

After  a  detention  in  port  until  the  27th  of  August,  the 
Wasp  sailed  on  another  cruise.  Two  prizes  were  made, 
when  a  few  days  out;  and  on  the  1st  of  September,  she  cut 
a  vessel,  loaded  with  guns  and  military  stores,  out  of  a  con- 
voy of  ten  sail,  that  was  under  the  care  of  the  Armada  74  ; 
but  was  chased  off  by  the  enemy,  in  an  attempt  to  seize 
another.  On  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  while  running 
free,  four  sail  were  seen,  nearly  at  the  same  time,  of  which 
two  were  on  the  larboard,  and  two  on  the  starboard  bow. 
The  latter  being  farthest  to  windward,  the  Wasp  hauled  up 
for  the  most  weatherly  of  them.  At  7  P.  M.,  the  chase  be- 
gan to  make  signals,  with  flags,  lanterns,  rockets,  and  guns. 
The  Wasp  disregarded  all,  but  kept  steadily  approaching. 
At  20  minutes  past  9,  she  had  the  enemy  on  her  lee- 
bow,  within  hail,  and  a  gun  was  fired  into  him.  The  shot 
was  returned,  when  Capt.  Blakely  put  his  helm  up,  and 
passed  to  leeward,  under  an  apprehension  that  the  enemy 
might  attempt  to  escape,  for  it  was  blowing  fresh,  and  the 
ship  was  running  ten  knots  at  the  moment.  This  was 
easily  affected,  the  enemy  being  still  in  doubt  as  to  the 
character  of  the  Wasp,  both  vessels  hailing.  As  soon  as 
she  had  got  the  desired  position,  however,  the  American 
ship  poured  in  a  broadside,  and  a  warm  engagement  com- 
menced at  29  minutes  past  9.  The  firing  was  close  and 
severe,  though  the  combat  had  the  usual  embarrassments 
of  a  night  action.  By  10  o'clock,  notwithstanding  the  dark- 
ness and  the  swell  that  was  on  at  the  time,  the  fire  of  the 
enemy  had  ceased,  and  Capt.  Blakely  hailed  to  ascertain  if 
he  had  surrendered.  Receiving  no  answer,  and  a  few  guns 
being  fired  on  board  the  English  vessel,  the  Wasp  poured 


290  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

in  a  fresh  broadside,  but  at  12  minutes  past  10,  perceiving 
that  he  enemy  did  not  fire  any  longer,  he  was  again  hailed, 
with  a  demand  to  know  if  he  had  surrendered.  The  an- 
swei  was  in  the  affirmative,  and  the  Wasp  lowered  a  boat 
to  ta.te  possession.  Before  the  latter  struck  the  water,  how- 
ever the  smoke  having  blown  away,  another  vessel  was 
seen  astern,  coming  up  fast,  when  the  boat  was  run  up  again, 
the  people  were  sent  to  the  guns,  which  had  been  secured, 
and  the  Wasp  was  brought  under  command,  in  readiness 
to  receive  this  second  antagonist.  At  36  minutes  past  10, 
two  more  sail  were  seen  astern,  and  it  became  necessary 
to  abandon  the  prize. 

The  helm  of  the  Wasp  was  now  put  up,  and  the  ship  ran 
off  dead  before  the  wind,  in  order  to  reeve  new  braces,  and 
in  the  hope  of  drawing  the  nearest  vessel  farther  from  her 
consorts.  This  vessel  continued  the  chase,  until  she  got 
quite  near  the  Wasp,  when  she  hauled  her  wind  across  the 
stern  of  the  latter,  delivered  a  broadside,  and  made  stretches 
to  rejoin  the  captured  vessel,  which,  by  this  time,  was  firing 
guns  cf  distress.  It  would  have  been  easy  for  the  second 
vessel  to  run  along  side  of  the  Wasp,  but  the  urgent  situa- 
tion of  her  consort,  probably,  prevented  the  step. 

As  the  Wasp  left  her  prize  so  suddenly,  she  had  no  means 
of  learning  her  name  or  loss.  She  had  herself  but  two  men 
killed,  and  one  wounded,  the  latter  by  a  wad;  a  circumstance 
that  proves  the  closeness  of  the  combat.  She  was  hulled  four 
times,  had  a  good  many  grape  in  her,  and  was  much  cut  up 
aloft.  All  that  Capt.  Blakely  could  state  concerning  his 
enemy,  was  his  impression  that  she  was  one  of  the  largest 
brigs  in  the  British  navy.  The  four  shot  that  hulled  the 
Wasp,  weighed  each,  just  32  pounds.  She  had  many  hands 
in  her  tops,  and  otherwise  appeared  to  be  strongly  manned.* 

*  Capt  Blakely  adds,  that  the  enemy's  shot  weighed  one  pound  and 
three-quarters  more  than  any  on  board  the  Wasp.  This  would  make  the 
32  pound  shot  of  the  Wasp  weigh  about  30  pounds,  and  was  probably 


If  AVAL  HISTORY.  291 

It  is  now  known  that  the  vessel  captured  by  the  Wasp, 
was  the  Avon  18,  Capt.  Arbuthnot.  The  brig  that  followed 
the  Wasp,  and  fired  into  her,  was  the  Castilian  18,  and  one 
of  the  other  vessels  in  sight  was  also  a  cruiser.  The 
Avon  was  so  much  injured  that  she  sunk,  and  it  was  with 
great  difficulty  that  the  other  vessels  saved  her  people.  By 
some  accounts,  indeed,  a  few  of  the  wounded  were  ost. 
The  loss  of  men  on  board  the  Avon  is  not  accurately  known, 
the  statements  varying  from  30  to  50.  The  vessel  was  cut 
up  in  an  extraordinary  manner.  She  is  believed  to  have 
mounted  18  thirty-two  pound  carronades,  with  the  usual 
chase  guns,  and  to  have  had  a  crew  of  120  men  in  her. 

Capt.  Blakely's  conduct  on  this  occasion,  had  all  the  merit 
shown  in  the  previous  action,  with  the  additional  claim  of 
engaging  an  enemy  under  circumstances  which  led  him  to 
believe  that  her  consorts  were  in  his  immediate  vicinity.  The 
steady  officer-like  manner  in  which  the  Avon  was  destroy- 
ed, and  the  coolness  with  which  he  prepared  to  engage  the 
!astilian,  within  ten  minutes  after  his  first  antagonist  had 
struck,  are  the  best  eulogiums  on  this  officer's  character  arid 
spirit,  as  well  as  on  the  school  in  which  he  had  been  trained. 

The  action  between  the  Wasp  and  the  Avon  occurred  on 
the  1st  of  September  1814,  (sea-time,)  in  lat.  47°  30,  N.  long. 
11°  W.  September  the  12th,  in  lat.  38°  2,  N.,  and  long.  14° 
58,  W.,  the  former  ship  took  the  brig  Three  Brothers,  and 
scuttled  her.  September  14th,  in  lat  37°  22,  N.  long.  14° 
33,  W.,  she  took  the  brig  Bacchus,  and  scuttled  her.  Sep- 
tember the  21st,  in  lat.  33°  12,  N.  long.  14°  56  W.,  she  took 
•  '"..'"•  '*.''«'  .  •  •'*'•  •'.-.'•.  •»•-_•'  •  -  ..  .  ,  .  > 

near  the  proportion  that  all  the  American  shot  of  that  day  bore  to  their 
nominal  weight.  It  follows,  that  in  this  action  the  metal  of  the  enemy 
was  about  two  pounds  heavier  to  the  gun  than  that  of  the  Wasp,  while  in 
the  action  with  the  Reindeer,  the  Wasp's  metal  was  only  about  six  pounds 
heavier  to  the  gun,  than  that  of  her  enemy.  In  both  these  cases,  the 
long  guns  are  excepted ;  the  American  ship  probably  carrying  heavier 
metal  forward  than  the  English. 


292  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

. 

the  brig  Atalanta  8,  with  19  men.  As  this  was  a  valuable 
prize,  Mr.  Geisinger,  one  of  the  midshipmen  of  the  Wasp 
was  put  on  board  her,  and  she  was  sent  to  America.  The 
Atalanta  arrived  safely  at  Savannah,  Nov.  4th,  and  brought 
the  last  direct  intelligence  that  was  ever  received  from  the 
regretted  Blakely  and  the  Wasp.  Various  accounts  have 
been  given  of  the  manner  in  which  she  was  probably  lost,  but 
nothing  that  can  be  deemed  authentic  has  ever  been  ascer- 
tained. It  will  be  seen  that  the  ship  had  got  as  far  south  as 
the  Azores,  when  Mr.  Geisinger  left  her,  and  she  was,  in 
fact,  cruising  between  those  islands  and  the  Straits  of 
Gibraltar  when  Capt.  Blakely  wrote  his  last  letter.  There 
is  a  rumour  that  an  English  frigate  went  into  Cadiz,  much 
crippled,  and  with  a  very  severe  loss  in  men,  about  this 
time,  and  that  she  reported  her  injuries  to  have  been  receiv- 
ed in  an  engagement  with  a  heavy  American  corvette, 
the  latter  disappearing  so  suddenly,  in  the  night,  that  it 
was  thought  she  had  sunk.  This  story  can  be  traced  to 
no  authentic  source.  By  another  account  the  ship  had  been 
wrecked  on  the  African  coast,  and,  for  a  short  time,  it  was 
believed  that  her  people  were  prisoners  among  the  Arabs. 
The  probability  is,  that  the  Wasp  foundered  either  in  a  gale, 
or  in  a  squall,  though  she  may  have  been  lost  by  any  of  the 
other  accidents  of  the  ocean.  A  man-of-war,  in  particular, 
always  runs  a  certain  risk  from  her  magazine,  and  as  ships 
are  known  to  have  been  blown  up  in  port,  it  is  probable 
that  some,  which  suddenly  disappear,  are  blown  up  at  sea. 
An  incident  occurred  a  few  years  after  the  last  direct  in- 
telligence was  received  from  this  gallant  ship,  that  suddenly 
and  keenly  revived  the  interest  of  the  public,  which  had 
begun  to  settle  into  a  saddened  sympathy  with  the  friends 
of  those  who  had  perished,  in  her  fate.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  Act.  Lieut.  M'Knight,  and  Mr.  Lyman,  a  mas- 
ter's mate,  both  of  the  Essex,  had  been  exchanged  by  Capt. 
Hillyar,  and  taken  to  Rio  de  Janeiro,  in  the  Phoebe,  with  a 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  293 

view  to  make  certain  affidavits  necessary  to  the  condem- 
nation of  the  American  frigate.  These  gentlemen,  after 
remaining  some  time  in  Brazil,  took  passage  in  a  Swedish 
brig  bound  to  England,  as  the  only  means  of  getting  home. 
A  long  time  passing  without  any  intelligence  from  Mr. 
M'Knight  and  his  companion,  inquiries  were  set  on  foot, 
which  terminated  in  ascertaining  this  fact,  and,  subsequently, 
in  finding  the  master  of  the  Swedish  brig,  who  proved  by  his 
log-book  and  other  documents,  that  he  had  fallen  in  with 
the  Wasp  18,  Capt.  Blakely,  when  his  two  passengers 
seized  the  occasion  to  put  themselves  under  the  flag.* 
The  Peacock  18,  Capt.  Warrington,  went  to  sea  from 

*  Extracts  from  the  Journal  kept  on  board  the  Swedish  brig,  Jldonis,  during 
a  voyage  from  Rio  de  Janeiro,  towards  Falmouth,  in  the  year  1814. 

"August  23. — Left  Rio  de  Janeiro;  Stephen  Decatur  M'Knight,  and 
James  Lyman,  passengers  for  England. 

"  Oct.  9th.— In  lat.  18°  35'  N.,  long-.  "30°  KX  W.,  sea  account,  at  8 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  discovered  a  strange  sail  giving  chase  to  us,  and 
fired  several  guns  ;  she  gaining  very  fast.  At  half  past  10  o'clock  hove 
to,  and  was  boarded  by  an  officer  dressed  in  an  English  doctor's  uniform, 
the  vessel  also  hoisted  an  English  ensign.  The  officer  proceeded  to  examine 
my  ship's  papers,  Sec.  &c.,  likewise  the  letter-bags,  and  took  from  one  of 
them  a  letter  to  the  victualling  office,  London.  Finding  I  had  two  Ame- 
rican officers  as  passengers,  he  immediately  left  the  ship,  and  went  on 
board  the  sloop  of  war;  he  shortly  after  returned,  took  the  American  gen- 
tlemen with  him,  and  went  a  second  time  on  board  the  sloop.  In  about  half 
an  hour,  he  returned  again  with  Messrs.  M'Knight  and  Lyman,  and  they 
informed  me  that  the  vessel  was  the  United  States  sloop  of  war,  the  Wasp, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Bleaky,  or  Blake,  last  from  France,  where  she  had 
re-fitted;  had  lately  sunk  the  Reindeer,  English  sloop  of  war,  and  another 
vessel  which  sunk  without  their  being  able  to  save  a  single  person,  or  learn 
the  vessel's  name, — that  Messrs.  M'Knight  and  Lyman  had  now  determin- 
ed to  leave  me,  and  go  on  board  the  Wasp — paid  me  their  passage  in  dol- 
lars, at  5s.  9d.,  and  having  taken  their  luggage  on  board  the  Wasp,  they 
made  sail  to  the  southward.  Shortly  after  they  had  left,  I  found  that 
Lieut.  M'Knight  had  left  his  writing  desk  behind;  and  I  immediately 
made  signal  for  the  Wasp  to  return,  and  stood  towards  her,-  they,  ob- 
serving my  signals,  stood  back,  came  alongside,  and  sent  their  boat  on 

VOL.  II.— 25 


294  HAVAL  HISTORY. 

New  York,  in  March  1814,  and  proceeded  to  the  south- 
ward, as  far  as  the  Great  Isaacs,  cruising  in  that  vicinity 

board  for  the  writing1  desk;  after  which  they  sent  me  a  log-line,  and  some 
other  presents,  and  made  all  sail  in  a  direction  for  the  line  ;  and  I  have 
reason  to  suppose  for  the  convoy  that  passed  on  Thursday  previous." 

This  is  the  last  intelligence  from  the  Wasp.  It  is  sixteen  days  later 
than  that  brought  in  by  the  prize,  and  places  the  ship  about  900  miles 
farther  south,  and  about  600  miles  farther  west,  than  she  was  when  Mr. 
Geisinger  left  her.  There  is  little  doubt  that  Capt.  Blakely  intended  to 
run  down  towards  the  Spanish  main,  and  to  pass  through  the  West  Indies, 
in  order  to  go  into  a  southern  port,  according  to  his  orders.  There  is 
only  one  other  rumour  in  reference  to  this  ship,  that  has  any  ap- 
pearance of  probability.  It  is  said  that  two  English  frigates  chased  an 
American  sloop  of  war,  off  the  southern  coast,  about  the  time  the  Wasp 
ought  to  have  arrived,  and  that  the  three  ships  were  struck  with  a  heavy 
squall,  in  which  the  sloop  of  war  suddenly  disappeared.  There  is  nothing 
surprising  in  a  vessel  of  that  size  being  capsized  in  a  squall,  especially 
when  carrying  sail  hard,  to  escape  enemies,  but  it  would  be  very  extra- 
ordinary if  no  traces  of  her  should  be  found  floating  on  the  ocean,  or 
drifted  ashore.  The  rumour,  like  that  of  the  action  with  the  frigate,  has 
probably  no  foundation. 

Capt.  Blakely  was  a  citizen  of  North  Carolina.  He  received  the  por- 
tion of  his  education  that  was  obtained  on  shore,  in  the  University  of  his 
own  state,  and  he  entered  the  navy  February  5th,  1800.  He  v/as  in  the 
Mediterranean  under  Preble,  and  saw  the  service  usual  to  officers  of  his 
rank.  His  first  command  was  the  Enterprise  14,  and  his  second  and  last, 
the  vessel  in  which  he  perished.  He  was  married,  and  left  an  only  child, 
a  daughter,  whom  the  legislature  of  North  Carolina  asked  permission  to 
educate.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  33.  This  gentleman  enjoyed  a  high  repu- 
tation in  the  service,  which  his  short  career,  as  a  commander,  fully  justi- 
fied. There  is  little  doubt,  had  he  survived,  that  Capt.  Blakely  would 
have  risen  to  the  highest  consideration  in  his  profession.  As  it  was,  few 
officers  have  left  better  names  behind  them. 

On  board  the  Wasp,  there  perished  with  Capt.  Blakely,  Lieutenants 
Reiliy,  Tillinghast  and  Baury.  Messrs.  Reilly  and  Baury  had  been  mid- 
shipmen in  the  Constitution  when  she  took  the  Guerriere  and  the  Java, 
and,  after  contending  with  the  enemy  successfully  in  four  combats,  it  was 
their  hard  fate  to  die  in  the  manner  conjectured,  llr.  Tillinghast  was 
very  active  in  the  capture  of  the  Boxer,  and  was  an  excellent  officer. 
The  present  Capt.  Geisinger  was  the  only  officer  saved  from  the  Wasp. 


1CAVAL  HISTORY.  295 

and  along  the  Florida  shore,  to  Cape  Carnaveral.  On  the 
29th  of  April,  in  lat.  27°  47,  N.  long.  80°  9,  three  sail  were 
made  to  windward,  under  convoy  of  a  large  brig  of  war. 
The  merchantmen  hauled  up  to  E.  N.  E.,  and  the  sloop  of 
war  edged  away  for  the  American  ship.  The  two  vessels 
were  soon  along  side  of  each  other,  when  a  close  action 
commenced.  The  Peacock  received  two  32  pound  shot  in 
the  quarter  of  her  fore-yard,  from  the  first  broadside  of  the 
enemy,  which  rendered  the  head-sails  nearly  useless.  This 
injury  compelled  the  Peacock  to  fight  running  large,  and 
prevented  much  manosuvring,  the  combat  being  effectually 
decided  by  gunnery.  At  the  end  of  42  minutes  the  enemy 
struck,  and  possession  was  taken  of  him. 

The  prize  was  H.  B.  M.  brig  Epervier  18,  Capt.  Wales. 
The  Epervier  was  extensively  injured,  having  received  no 
less  than  45  shot  in  her  hull,  and  had  22  men  killed  and 
wounded.  Her  main-top-mast  was  over  the  side,  her  main 
boom  was  shot  away,  her  foremast  tottering,  her  bowsprit 
badly  wounded,  standing  rigging  much  cut,  and  she  had  five 
feet  water  in  her  hold.  The  Peacock  received  very  little 
injury,  that  done  the  foreyard  being  the  principal,  while  her 
hull  escaped  almost  entirely,  not  a  round  shot  touching  it. 
No  person  was  killed,  and  only  two  men  were  wounded. 

The  Peacock  was  a  heavier  vessel  than  the  Epervier, 
while,  as  usual,  the  disparity  in  the  loss  was  infinitely 
greater  than  that  in  the  force.  The  metal  was  nominally 
the  same;  but,  if  the  shot  of  the  Peacock  were  as  short  of 
weight  as  those  of  the  Wasp  are  known  to  have  been,  she 
threw  at  a  broadside  only  twenty  pounds  of  metal  more 
than  her  antagonist.  The  Epervier  mounted  18  thirty-two 
pound  carronades,  and  it  would  seem  had  no  chase  guns; 
her  crew  consisted  of  128  men.  On  board  this  vessel  were 
found  SI  18,000  in  specie. 

In  one  hour  after  the  retreat  from  quarters  was  beat,  the 
Peacock  had  her  fore-yard  fished,  and,  in  all  respects,  was 


296  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

ready  again  to  engage.  The  Epervier  struck  about  11,  A. 
M.,  and  by  sunset  she  was  in  a  condition  to  carry  sail.  It 
was  only  by  the  greatest  exertions,  however,  that  she  was, 
-at  first,  kept  from  sinking. 

Mr.  J.  B.  Nicolson,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Peacock, 
was  put  in  charge  of  the  prize,  with  directions  to  make 
the  best  of  his  way  to  Savannah.  The  southern  coast 
was  then  much  infested  by  the  enemy,  and,  as  Capt.  War- 
rington  knew  that  she  was  liable  to  be  brought  to  action,  at 
any  moment,  he  determined  to  convoy  his  prize  into  port. 
On  the  evening  of  the  29th  of  April,  or  the  day  of  the  capture, 
the  two  vessels  made  sail,  and  the  next  afternoon  they  were 
abreast  of  Amelia  Island,  when  two  frigates  were  discover- 
ed at  the  northward,  and  to  leeward.  At  Mr.  Nicolson's 
request,  Capt.  Warrington  now  took  all  the  prize  crew  from 
the  Epervier  but  that  gentleman  and  sixteen  officers  and 
men,  intending  to  send  the  prize  into  St.  Mary's  and  to  haul 
to  the  southward  with  the  Peacock,  to  lead  the  enemy  off 
the  coast.  This  plan  succeeded,  the  Peacock  getting  rid 
of  the  frigate  that  chased  her,  the  next  day.  The  Epervier, 
while  subsequently  running  along  the  coast,  on  her  way  to 
Savannah,  however,  fell  in  with  the  other  frigate,  and  keep- 
ing close  in,  in  shoal  water,  the  wind  being  light,  the  enemy 
manned  his  boats,  and  sent  them  in  chase.  There  was  a 
moment  when  the  prize  was  in  great  danger  of  falling  into 
the  hands  of  her  pursuers,  for  the  boats  got  quite  near,  in 
her  wake.  In  this  critical  situation  Mr.  Nicolson  had  re- 
course to  a  stratagem  to  keep  them  off.  He  used  the  trum- 
pet as  if  full  of  men,  and  when  the  boats  were  the  nearest, 
he  issued  an  order,  in  a  very  loud  voice,  to  make  a  yaw,  in 
order  to  fire  a  broadside.  This  appearance  of  a  readiness 
to  engage  intimidated  the  enemy,  who  abandoned  his 
attempt  at  a  moment  when  he  might  have  carried  the 
Epervier  with  little  or  no  loss.  On  the  1st  of  May  the  brig 
arrived  safely  at  Savannah,  and,  on  the  4th  the  Peacock 


XAVAL  HISTORY.  297 

came   in  also.     Mr.  Nicolson's  steadiness   and   ingenuity 
were  much  applauded. 

Shortly  after  the  Peacock  sailed  on  a  cruise  for  the  ene- 
my's seas,  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  the  coast  of  Portugal,  and 
among  the  Islands,  constantly  changing  her  position  to 
elude  the  English  squadrons.  After  passing  over  some  of 
the  best  cruising  ground  in  the  Atlantic,  the  ship  returned 
to  New  York,  at  the  end  of  October,  without  having  fallen 
in  with  an  enemy  of  a  force  proper  for  her  to  engage.  She 
.  captured,  however,  14  sail  of  merchantmen. 

The  President  44,  continued  to  cruise  under  the  orders  of 
Com.  Rodgers,  and  the  Congress  38,  under  those  of  Capt. 
Smith,  with  a  singular  want  of  success,  when  the  merits 
of  their  commanders  were  considered.  These  two  fine 
frigates  traversed  the  Northern  Atlantic,  in  a  variety  of  di- 
rections, in  company  and  singly,  and  yet  it  was  never  the 
good  fortune  of  either  to  fall  in  with  an  enemy,  that  could 
be  brought  to  action.  The  latter  ship  even  went  south  of 
the  equator,  and  one  of  her  cruises  extended  to  eight  months, 
•  but  her  luck  did  not  vary. 

In  one  of  his  cruises  Com.  Rodgers  captured  an  enemy's 
man-of-war  schooner,  called  the  Highflyer,  drawing  her  un- 
der his  guns  by  an  artifice,  and  thisrwas  the  only  English 
man-of-war  that  he  took  during  his  command  of  this  ship. 

Early  in  February  1814,  the  President  returned  from  a 
cruise  of  75  days,  a  brief  account  of  which  will  show  the 
manner  in  which  this  ship  sought  opportunities  of  meeting 
the  enemy,  as  well  as  that  in  which  she  was  foiled.  She 
sailed  from  Providence  in  December  1813,  and  ran  off  to 
the  southward  and  eastward,  into  long.  38  W.,  lat.  18  N. 
Here  she  chased  two  large  ships,  under  the  impression  that 
one  was  an  Indiaman  and  the  other  a  frigate,  but  both 
proved  to  be  frigates,  and  the  President  was  chased  in  her 
turn.  On  this  occasion,  the  nearest  vessel  threw  a  shot 
over  the  American  ship,  her  consort  being  close  astern. 

25* 


298  If  AVAL  HISTORY. 

Com.  Rodgers  now  went  off  Barbadoes,  and  after  cruising 
some  time  for  a  convoy,  he  ran  down  among  the  islands 
through  the  Mona  passage,  and  towards  the  continent, 
striking  soundings  off  St.  Augustine.  From  this  point  the 
ship  proceeded  north,  keeping  as  near  the  coast  as  the 
water  would  allow,  until  she  got  off  Charleston.  Remain- 
ing all  day  off  the  bar,  Com.  Rodgers  continued  standing  to 
the  northward,  following  the  coast  as  far  as  Sandy  Hook. 
As  this  was  completely  running  the  gauntlet  among  the 
enemy,  several  cruisers  were  seen,  but  always  in  squadron, 
or  under  circumstances  that  prevented  an  engagement. 


JTAVAL  HISTORY.  299 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


THE  general  peace  that,  owing  to  the  downfall  of  Napo- 
leon, so  suddenly  took  place  in  Europe,  afforded  England 
an  opportunity  of  sending  large  reinforcements  in  ships  and 
troops  to  America.  Regiments  that  had  entered  France 
from  Spain,  were  embarked  in  the  Loire,  with  that  object ; 
and  a  land  force  of  more  than  30,000  men  was  soon 
collected  in  the  interior,  or  on  the  American  coast.  The 
ships,  also,  were  much  increased  in  number;  and,  it  would 
seem,  that  there  was  a  moment,  when  some  in  England 
were  nattered  with  the  belief  of  being  able  to  dictate  such 
terms  to  the  republic,  as  would  even  reduce  its  territory,  if 
they  did  not  affect  its  independence.  In  carrying  on  the 
war,  two  separate  plans  appear  to  have  been  adopted.  One 
aimed  at  conquest;  the  other  at  harassing  the  coast,  and  at 
inflicting  the  injuries  that  characterize  a  partisan  warfare. 

In  furtherance  of  the  latter  intention,  a  considerable  force 
in  ships  and  troops  assembled  in  the  waters  of  the  Chesa- 
peake, early  in  the  summer,  when  the  enemy  attempted 
expeditions  of  greater  importance,  and  which  were  more 
creditable  to  his  arms,  than  many  in  which  he  had  been 
previously  engaged  against  small,  exposed  and  defenceless 
villages.  The  warfare  of  1813  had  induced  the  govern- 
ment to  equip  a  stronger  force  in  the  Chesapeake,  than  it 
had  originally  possessed,  and  Capt.  Joshua  Barney,  the 
officer  whose  name  has  already  been  mentioned,  with  dis- 


300  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

tinction,  as  the  captor  of  the  General  Monk,  was  placed  at 
its  head.  The  vessels  of  the  flotilla  under  the  orders  of 
Capt.  Barney,  were  principally  barges  carrying  heavy 
guns,  though  there  were  a  few  galleys,  and  a  schooner  or 
two. 

It  would  exceed  the  limits  of  a  work  of  this  nature,  to 
enter  into  a  minute  relation  of  all  the  skirmishes  to  which 
the  predatory  warfare  of  the  English,  in  the  Chesapeake, 
gave  rise;  but  it  is  due  to  the  officers  and  men  employed 
against  them,  to  furnish  an  outline  of  their  services.  On 
various  occasions,  parties  from  the  ships  had  conflicts  with 
the  detached  militia,  or  armed  citizens,  who  were  frequent- 
ly successful.  Although  it  is  a  little  anticipating  events,  it 
may  be  mentioned  here,  that  in  one  of  these  skirmishes, 
Capt.  Sir  Peter  Parker,  of  the  Menelaus,  was  killed,  and  his 
party  driven  off  to  its  ship.  In  several  other  instances, 
captures  were  made  of  boats  and  their  crews;  the  people  of 
the  country  frequently  displaying  a  coolness  and  gallantry 
that  were  worthy  of  trained  soldiers.  On  the  whole,  how- 
ever, the  vast  superiority  of  the  enemy  in  numbers,  and  his 
ability  to  choose  his  time  and  place  of  attack,  gave  the 
English  the  advantage,  and  their  success  was  usually  in 
proportion. 

The  presence  of  Capt.  Barney's  flotilla  compelled  the 
enemy  to  be  more  guarded,  and  his  small  vessels  became 
cautious  about  approaching  the  shallow  waters  in  calms, 
or  in  light  winds.  On  the  1st  of  June,  this  active  and  bold 
officer  left  the  Patuxent,  with  the  Scorpion,  two  gun-boats, 
and  several  large  barges,  in  chase  of  two  schooners.  He 
was  closing  fast,  by  means  of  sweeps,  when  a  large  ship 
was  discovered  to  the  southward.  Just  at  this  moment 
the  wind  shifted,  bringing  the  enemy  to  windward,  blowing 
fresh  and  becoming  squally.  Signal  was  made  for  the 
flotilla  to  return  to  the  Patuxent,  as  the  weather  was  par- 
ticularly unfavourable  for  that  description  offeree,  and  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  301 

ship  proved  to  be  a  two-decker.  On  re-entering  the  river, 
the  wind  came  ahead,  when  the  gun-boats  began  to  sweep 
up  under  the  weather  shore.  One  of  the  latter  being 
in  some  danger,  Capt.  Barney  anchored  with  the  Scorpion 
and  the  other  boats,  and  opened  a  fire,  which  immediately 
drove  the  enemy's  schooners  out  of  the  river.  On  this  oc- 
casion, the  English  pushed  a  barge  in  front  which  began  to 
throw  Congreve  rockets.  By  this  essay,  it  was  found  that 
the  rockets  could  be  thrown  farther  than  shot,  but  that  they 
could  not  be  directed  with  any  certainty.  The  ship  of  the 
line  anchored  at  the  mouth  of  the  Patuxent;  the  enemy's 
barges  kept  hovering  about  it,  and  the  American  flotilla  was 
anchored  about  three  miles  within  the  river. 

Between  the  4th  and  8th  of  June,  the  enemy  was  joined 
by  a  ras6e  and  a  sloop-of-war,  when  Capt.  Barney  removed 
his  flotilla  up  the  river,  to  the  mouth  of  St.  Leonard's  creek. 
On  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  British  was  seen  coming  up 
the  river,  the  wind  being  fair,  with  a  ship,  a  brig,  two 
schooners  and  fifteen  barges,  which  induced  Capt.  Barney 
to  move  up  the  St.  Leonard's  about  two  miles,  when  he  an- 
chored in  a  line  abreast,  and  prepared  to  receive  an  attack. 
At  8  A.  M.,  the  ship,  brig  and  schooners  anchored  at  the 
mouth  of  the  creek,  and  the  barges  entered  it,  with  the 
rocket-boat  in  advance. 

Capt.  Barney  now  left  the  Scorpion  and  the  two  gun- 
boats at  anchor,  and  got  his  barges,  13  in  number,  under 
way,  when  the  enemy  retreated  towards  their  vessels  out- 
side. In  the  afternoon,  the  same  manosuvre  was  repeated, 
the  enemy's  barge  throwing  a  few  rockets  without  effect. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  9th,  the  ship  of  the  line  having 
sent  up  a  party  of  men,  the  enemy  entered  the  creek  again, 
having  20  barges,  but  after  a  sharp  skirmish,  retired.  The 
object  of  these  demonstrations  was  probably  to  induce  the 
Americans  to  burn  their  vessels,  or  to  venture  out  within 
reach  of  the  guns  of  the  ships,  but  the  latter  were  commanded 


302  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

by  an  officer  much  too  experienced  and  steady  to  be  forced 
into  either  measure  without  sufficient  reason.  On  the  llth, 
a  still  more  serious  attempt  was  made,  with  21  barges, 
having  the  two  schooners  in  tow.  Capt.  Barney  met  them 
again,  and,  after  a  sharper  encounter  than  before,  drove 
them  down  upon  their  large  vessels.  On  this  occasion,  the 
pursuit  was  continued,  until  the  rasee,  which,  by  this  time, 
had  ascended  the  Patuxent,  and  the  brig,  opened  a  fire 
on  the  Americans.  In  this  affair,  the  English  are  thought 
to  have  suffered  materially,  especially  one  of  the  schooners. 
A  shot  also  struck  the  rocket-boat. 

Some  small  works  were  now  thrown  up  on  the  shore,  to 
protect  the  American  flotilla,  and  the  blockade  continued. 
In  the  mean  time,  Capt.  Miller,  of  the  marine  corps,  joined 
the  flotilla,  and  a  considerable  force  of  militia  was  collected 
under  Col.  Wadsworth,  of  the  ordnance  service.  The  ene- 
my had  also  brought  a  frigate,  in  addition  to  the  rasee, 
off  the  mouth  of  the  creek.  The  largest  of  these  vessels 
was  believed  to  be  the  Severn,  and  the  smallest  the  Nar- 
cissus 32.  On  the  26th,  an  attempt  was  made  by  the 
united  force  of  the  Americans  to  raise  the  blockade.  The 
cannonade  was  close,  for  the  species  of  force  employed  ; 
and  it  lasted  two  hours,  when  the  Severn  cut,  and  was  run 
on  a  sand  bank  to  prevent  her  sinking.*  It  is  said  that  a 
raking  shot  ripped  a  plank  from  her  bow,  and  placed  her 
in  imminent  danger.  Shortly  after,  in  company  with  the 
Narcissus,  she  dropped  down  the  river,  and  went  into  the 
bay.  In  this  handsome  affair,  the  flotilla  lost  13  men  in 
killed  and  wounded;  but  it  effectually  raised  the  blockade, 
and  induced  the  enemy  to  be  more  cautious.  v 

The  portion  of  the  flotilla  that  was  in  the  Patuxent,  re- 
mained in  that  river,  until  the  middle  of  August,  when  the 
enemy  commenced  that  series  of  movements,  which  termi- 

*  By  some  accounts  this  ship  was  the  Loire. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  303 

nated  in  his  advance  upon  Washington.  On  the  16th, 
Capt.  Barney  received  intelligence  that  the  British  were 
coming  up  the  Patuxent  in  force,  when  he  sent  an  express 
to  the  navy  department  for  instructions.  The  answer  was 
to  land  the  men,  and  join  the  army  that  was  hurriedly 
assembling  for  the  defence  of  the  coast,  under  Gen.  Winder, 
and,  if  pressed,  to  burn  the  flotilla. 

On  the  21st,  the  news  was  received  that  the  enemy  had 
landed  a  force  of  four  or  five  thousand  men  at  Benedict, 
and  that  he  was  marching  in  the  direction  of  the  capital. 
Capt.  Barney  immediately  landed  400  of  his  party,  leaving 
the  vessels  in  charge  of  Mr.  Frazier,  with  orders  to  set  fire 
to  them,  if  attacked,  and  to  join  the  main  body,  with  as 
little  delay  as  possible.  The  next  day  this  order  was  exe- 
cuted, a  strong  detachment  of  seamen  and  marines  ap- 
proaching the  flotilla  to  attack  it. 

On  the  22d,  Capt.  Barney  joined  the  assemblage  of 
armed  citizens,  that  was  called  an  army,  at  the  wood-yard. 
The  next  day  he  marched  into  Washington,  and  took  up 
his  quarters  in  the  marine  barracks. 

After  a  good  deal  of  uncertainty  concerning  the  move- 
ments of  the  enemy,  it  was  understood  he  was  marching 
directly  on  Washington,  and  that  it  was  intended  to  fight 
him  at  Bladensburgh.  The  flotilla-men  and  marines  left 
the  yard  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  and  they  arrived  at 
the  battle-ground  on  a  trot,  and  were  immediately  drawn 
up  about  a  mile  to  the  west  of  Bladensburgh,  holding  the 
centre  of  Gen.  Winder's  position.  After  a  sharp  skirmish 
in  front,  where  the  enemy  suffered  severely  in  crossing  a 
bridge,  the  militia  fell  back,  and  the  British  columns  ap- 
peared, following  the  line  of  the  public  road.  The  entire 
force  of  the  flotilla-men  and  marines,  was  about  500  men ; 
and  they  had  two  eighteens,  and  three  twelve-pounders, 
ship's  guns,  mounted  on  travelling  carriages.  Capt.  Barney 
took  command  of  the  artillery  in  person,  while  Capt.  Miller 


304  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

had  the  disposition  of  the  remainder  of  the  two  parties, 
who  were  armed  as  infantry.     The  marines,  78  men  in  all, 
formed  a  line  immediately  on  the  right  of  the  guns,  while  the 
seamen,  370  men,  were  drawn  up  a  little  in  their  rear,  and 
on  the  right  flank  of  the  marines,  on  ground  that  permitted 
them  to   fire  over  the  heads  of  the  latter.     Although  the 
troops  that  were  falling  back  did  not  halt,  Capt.  Barney 
held  his  position,  and  as  soon  as  the  enemy  began  to  throw 
rockets,  he  opened  on  him,  with  a  sharp  discharge  of  round 
and  grape.     The  column  was  staggered,  and  it  immedi- 
ately gave  ground.     A  second  attempt  to  advance,  was  re- 
pulsed in  the  same  manner,  when  the  enemy,  who,  as  yet, 
had  been  able  to  look  down  resistance  by  his  discipline,  ad- 
vancing steadily  in  column,  was  obliged  to  make  an  oblique 
movement  to  his  left,  into  some  open  fields,  and  to  display. 
Here  he  threw  out  a  brigade  of  light  troops,  in  open  order, 
and  advanced  in  beautiful  style,  upon  the  command  of  Capt. 
Barney,  while  the  head  of  a  strong  column  was  kept  in 
reserve  in  a  copse  in  its  rear.     Capt.  Miller,  with  the  ma- 
rines, and  that  portion  of  the  seamen  who  acted  as  infan- 
try, met  the  charge  in  the  most  steady  and  gallant  manner, 
and  after   a  sharp  conflict,  drove  the  British  light  troops 
back  upon  their  supporting  column.     In  this  conflict,  the 
English  commanding  officer,  in  advance,  Col.  Thornton, 
with  his  second  and  third  in  rank,  Lieut.  Col.  Wood,  and 
Major  Brown,  were   all  wounded,  and  left  on  the  field. 
The  marines  and  seamen  manifested  the  utmost  steadiness, 
though  it  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  the  light  troops 
brought  up  in  their  front,  amounted  to  about  600  men. 

There  can  be  no  question,  that  a  couple  of  regular  regi- 
ments would  now  have  given  the  Americans  the  day,  but 
DO  troops  remained  in  line,  except  the  party  under  Capt 
Barney,  and  two  detachments  on  his  right,  that  were  well 
posted.  Having  been  so  roughly  handled,  the  enemy  made 
no  attempt  to  advance  directly  in  front  of -the  seamen  and 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  305 

marines,  but,  after  forcing  the  troops  on  their  right  from 
the  field,  by  a  demonstration  in  that  direction,  they  pre- 
pared to  turn  the  rear  of  Capt.  Barney,  in  order  to  sur- 
round him.  While  these  movements  were  going  on  in  front, 
a  party  of  light  troops  had  been  thrown  out  on  the  enemy's 
right,  and  the  militia  having  abandoned  the  ground,  they 
were  also  beginning  to  close  upon  the  Americans  that 
stood.  By  this  time,  Capt.  Barney,  Capt.  Miller,  and  seve- 
ral other  officers  were  wounded ;  and  victory  being  impos- 
sible, against  odds  so  great,  an  order  was  given  to  com- 
mence a  retreat.  The  defence  had  been  too  obstinate  to 
admit  of  carrying  off  the  guns,  which  were  necessarily 
abandoned.  All  the  men  retired,  with  the  exception  of  the 
badly  wounded ;  among  the  latter,  however,  were  Capt. 
Barney  and  Capt.  Miller,  who  both  fell  into  the  enemy's 
hands.  The  loss  of  the  latter  in  front  of  the  seamen  and 
marines,  on  this  occasion,  was  near  300  men,  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Of  the  marines,  nearly  one-third  were  among 
the  casualties;  and  the  flotilla-men  suffered  considerably, 
though  in  a  smaller  proportion. 

The  people  of  the  flotilla,  under  the  orders  of  Capt.  Bar- 
ney, and  the  marines,  were  justly  applauded  for  their  ex- 
cellent conduct  on  (his  occasion.  No  troops  could  have 
stood  better;  and  the  fire  of  both  artillery  and  musketry 
has  been  described  as  to  the  last  degree  severe.  Capt. 
Barney,  himself,  and  Capt.  Miller,  of  the  marine  corps,  in 
particular,  gained  much  additional  reputation ;  and  their 
conspicuous  gallantry  caused  a  deep  and  general  regret, 
that  their  •>  efforts  could  not  have  been  sustained  by  the 
rest  of  the  army. 

As  the  enemy  took  possession  of  Washington,  a  perfectly 
defenceless  straggling  town  of  some  eight  or  nine  thousand 
inhabitants,  that  evening,  and  a  considerable  force  in 
ships  was  ascending  the  Potomac,  it  was  thought  ne- 
cessary to  destroy  the  public  property  at  the  navy  yard. 

VOL.  II.— 26 


306  NAVAL  HISTORT. 

At  that  time,  a  frigate,  of  the  first  class,  called  the  Colum- 
bia, was  on  the  stocks,  and  the  Argus  18,  and  Lynx  12, 
had  not  long  been  launched.  A  small  quantity  of  stores  and 
ammunition  had  been  removed,  but  on  the  night  of  the  24th, 
fire  was  communicated  to  the  remainder.  It  is  difficult  to 
say  why  the  vessels  afloat  were  not  scuttled,  a  measure 
that  would  have  allowed  of  their  being  raised  again,  as  it 
would  have  been  impossible  for  the  enemy  to  injure  ships  in 
that  state,  and  much  less  to  remove  them.  Indeed  the  expe- 
diency of  setting  fire  to  anything  has  been  questioned,  since 
the  enemy  could  not  have  done  more.  It  is,  however, 
just  to  remember,  that  the  sudden  retreat  of  the  English 
could  not  have  been  foreseen,  and  that  they  had  a  com- 
manding naval  force  in  the  Potomac.  The  loss  in  vessels 
was  not  great;  the  Columbia  44,  on  the  stocks,  and  the 
Argus  18,  being  the  only  two  destroyed,  that  were  of  any 
value.  The  Lynx  escaped  ;  and  it  would  seem  that  the 
enemy  was  in  too  great  a  hurry  to  do  her  any  injury. 
On  this  occasion,  the  Boston  28,  was  burned,  though  the 
ship  was  condemned.  The  hulk  of  the  New  York  36, 
escaped ;  but  all  the  naval  stores  were  consumed. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  this,  and  the  instance 
in  which  the  Adams  was  burned  in  the  Penobscot,  were 
the  only  cases  in  the  war,  in  which  the  enemy,  notwith- 
standing his  numerous  descents,  was  ever  able  to  destroy 
any  public  cruiser,  by  means  of  his  troops.  In  this  respect, 
the  difference  between  the  war  of  1812,  and  that  of  1775, 
is  strikingly  apparent.  During  the  former  contest,  indeed, 
the  enemy  succeeded  in  no  assault  on  any  place  of  size, 
although  encouraged  by  his  success  at  Washington,  an  at- 
tempt was  shortly  after  made  on  Baltimore. 

To  aid  in  resisting  these  descents,  which  were  believed, 
at  the  time,  to  be  made  by  a  force  greatly  exceeding  that 
which  was  actually  employed,  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
navy,  who  were  in  the  vicinity,  were  collected  on  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  307 

shores  of  the  Chesapeake.  Com.  Rodgers,  with  the  crew 
of  the  Guerriere  44,  then  nearly  ready  for  sea,  was  with- 
drawn from  Philadelphia;  Capt.  Perry,  of  ihe  Java  44, 
which  ship  was  fitting  at  Baltimore,  and  Capt.  Porter,  with 
other  gentlemen  of  the  service,  had  been  actively  employed 
on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac,  in  endeavouring  to  intercept 
the  return  cf  the  British  ships  that  had  ascended  to  Alex- 
andria; a  duty  that  could  not  be  effected,  however,  for 
want  of  means  and  time.  The  guns  at  command,  were  alto- 
gether too  light.  Some  fighting  occurred.  Several  gal- 
lant attempts  with  fire-ships  were  made,  but  the  enemy's 
movements  were  too  rapid,  to  allow  of  the  necessary  pre- 
parations in  a  country  so  thinly  settled,  and  almost  desti- 
tute of  military  supplies.  In  the  course  of  this  service,  Com. 
Rodgers  repelled  an  attack  on  a  small  party  of  less  than  50 
men,  that  was  made  by  the  enemy  in  an  attempt  to  cut  off 
a  lighter  and  a  fire-vessel,  on  which  occasion,  Mr.  New- 
comb,  Mr.  Ramage,  Mr.  Forrest,  and  Mr.  Stockton,  of  the 
Guerriere,  were  conspicuously  useful.  These  gentlemen 
were  also  active  in  endeavouring  to  fire  the  enemy's  ships, 
though  unsuccessful.  Most  of  these  officers,  and  all  their 
men,  were  ordered  to  Baltimore,  when  that  town  was 
threatened. 

Baltimore  was  a  much  more  formidable  place  to  assail 
than  Washington,  being  compact,  and  containing,  at  that 
time,  more  than  40,000  souls.  Its  water  defences  were 
respectable,  though  it  had  no  other  fortifications  on  the  side 
of  the  land,*  than  those  which  were  thrown  up  for  the  oc-* 
casion.  The  seamen,  both  of  the  ships  of  war  and  of  the 
flotilla,  with  the  marines  present,  were  all  under  the  com- 

*  It  may  assist  the  foreigner  who  reads  American  history,  if  he  is  told 
that  in  America,  there  is  no  fortified  town.  Defences  have  been  made 
to  resist  attacks  by  sea,  and  field  works  have  been  occasionally  thrown 
up  around  different  places,  on  emergencies,  but  no  American  town,  in  the 
old  English  colonies,  was  ever  regularly  walled  and  fortified. 


308  WAVAL  HISTORY. 

mand  of  Com.  Rodgers,  who  made  a  judicious  disposition 
of  his  force. 

The  enemy  landed  early  on  the  12th  of  September,  near 
a  place  called  North  Point.  While  this  was  effecting,  the 
British  frigates,  sloops  and  bomb-vessels,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  Nourse,  of  the  Severn,  proceeded  up  the 
Patapsco,  with  a  view  to  cannonade  and  bombard  the  wa- 
ter defences  of  the  town.  Vice-Admiral  Cochrane,  and 
Rear-Admiral  Malcolm,  were  with  this  squadron.  A  bri- 
gade of  seamen  accompanied  the  army,  under  Capt.  Crof- 
ton.  With  this  party  Rear-Admiral  Cockburn  landed  in 
person.  The  troops,  as  at  Washington,  were  led  by  Maj. 
Gen.  Ross. 

After  proceeding  about  five  miles,  a  small  advanced  par- 
ty of  the  local  militia  momentarily  checked  the  march  of 
the  enemy,  falling  back,  agreeably  to  orders,  when  it  found 
itself  about  to  be  surrounded.  In  the  trifling  skirmish  that 
occurred  at  this  spot,  Maj.  Gen.  Ross  was  killed.  A 
sharper  encounter  took  place  shortly  after,  in  which  the 
Americans  had  about  1500  men  engaged.  On  this  occa- 
sion, the  militia  had  24  men  killed,  and  129  wounded. 
They  lost  also,  one  officer  and  49  privates,  prisoners.  Ac- 
cording to  the  accounts  of  the  enemy,  he  lost  in  both  af- 
fairs, 290  in  killed  and  wounded.  Shortly  after  the  second 
skirmish,  the  English  retreated  to  the  place  of  debarkation, 
and  abandoned  the  enterprise.  The  armed  citizens  of  Bal- 
timore and  its  vicinity,  composed  the  force  that  met  the 
enemy  on  this  occasion. 

The  attack  by  water  was  equally  unsuccessful.  Fort 
M'Henry  was  bombarded  for  twenty-four  hours,  without 
making  any  serious  impression  on  it.  A  small  battery  in 
advance,  manned  by  officers  and  men  of  the  flotilla,  al- 
though much  exposed,  returned  the  fire  to  the  last.  In  the 
course  of  the  night,  a  strong  brigade  of  boats  pushed  into 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  309 

the  Ferry  Branch,  and  would  have  gained  the  harbour, 
had  it  not  been  received  by  a  warm  fire  from  Forts  Co- 
vington  and  Babcock,  as  well  as  from  the  barges  of  the 
flotilla.  The  defence  was  found  to  be  too  animated,  and  the 
enemy  retreated.  Fort  Covington  was  manned  by  80  sea- 
men of  the  Guerriere,  under  Mr.  Newcomb,  a  very  excel- 
lent young  officer  of  that  ship;  and  Mr.  Webster,  a  sailing 
master,  with  50  men  of  the  flotilla,  was  in  the  six-gun  battery 
called  Babcock.  The  barges  were  under  the  orders  of 
Lieut.  Rutter,  the  senior  officer  present,  in  that  branch  of 
the  service.  All  these  gentlemen,  and  their  several  com- 
mands, distinguished  themselves  by  their  steadiness  and 
efficiency. 

The  barges,  in  particular,  though  exposed  for  nearly 
a  day  and  a  night,  to  the  shells  and  rockets  of  the  enemy, 
maintained  their  position,  with  unflinching  firmness,  and 
when  more  closely  attacked,  repelled  the  enemy  with  ease. 
At  a  most  critical  moment,  several  vessels  were  sunk  in 
the  channel,  which  would  have  completely  prevented  the 
enemy  from  bringing  up  his  heavy  ships,  had  he  seen  fit  to 
attempt  it.  The  duty  was  performed  with  coolness  and 
expedition,  by  Capt.  Spence. 

This  failure  virtually  terminated  the  warfare  in  the 
Chesapeake,  the  enemy  shortly  after  collecting  most  of  his 
forces  at  the  south,  with  a  view  to  make  a  still  more  serious 
attempt  on  New  Orleans.  Small  predatory  expeditions, 
however,  continued  in  this  quarter,  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
though  they  led  to  no  results  of  sufficient  importance  to  be 
mentioned.  This  warfare  was  generally  beneficial  to  the 
American  government;  the  excesses  into  which  the  enemy 
were  led,  whether  intentionally  or  not,  having  the  effect  to 
disgust  that  portion  of  the  population  which  had  been  se- 
riously averse  to  the  conflict ;  and  the  administration  was 
probably  never  strooger,  than  after  the  wanton  destruction 

26* 


310  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

of  the  public  buildings  at  Washington.     About  this  time, 
Capt.  Barney,*  was  exchanged,  and  he  resumed  his  former 

*  Joshua  Barney  was  born  in  Baltimore,  July  6th,  1759.  He  went  to 
sea  young1,  and  by  some  accidental  circumstances,  was  early  thrown  into 
the  command  of  a  valuable  ship.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  or  in  October,  1775,  he  entered  on  board  the  Hornet  10, 
which  was  fitted  at  Baltimore,  as  a  master's  mate,  and  sailed  in  the  expedi- 
tion under  Com.  Hopkins,  against  the  Bahamas.  The  Hornet  was  sepa- 
rated from  the  squadron,  by  bad  weather,  and  returned  to  port  alone. 
He  next  joined  the  Sachem  10,  Capt.  Alexander,  as  a  lieutenant,  though 
his  name  is  not  found  on  the  regular  list  of  the  service,  until  July  20th, 
1781,  when  it  appears  by  the  side  of  those  of  Dale  and  Murray.  From 
this  fact,  it  is  to  be  inferred  that  the  first  commissions  regularly  received 
from  Congress,  by  either  of  those  distinguished  young  sailors,  were  given 
at  that  time.  Buc  Mr.  Barney  served  even  as  a  first  lieutenant  of  a  frigate 
at  a  much  earlier  day.  He  was  in  that  station  on  board  the  Virginia  28, 
when  taken  by  the  enemy  ;  and  he  also  served  in  the  same  rank,  on  board 
the  Saratoga  16.  Mr.  Barney  escaped  the  fate  of  the  Saratoga,  in  conse- 
quence of  having  been  in  a  prize. 

After  serving  in  a  very  gallant  manner  on  board  of  different  vessels  of 
war,  as  a  lieutenant,  and  in  several  private  cruisers  as  commander,  Mr. 
Barney  was  appointed  to  the  Hyder  Ally.  For  the  manner  in  which 
he  received  this  command,  and  the  brilliant  action  he  fought  in  that  ship, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  text.  From  the  year  1782  to  that  of  1784, 
Capt.  Barney  served  in  the  Gen.  Washington,  (late  Gen.  Monk,)  being 
most  of  the  time  employed  as  a  despatch  vessel,  or  on  civil  duty  of  mo- 
ment. It  is  not  easy  to  say  what  was  the  regular  rank  of  Capt.  Barney  at 
this  period.  That  he  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  public  marine  is  certain,  but 
it  does  not  so  clearly  appear  that  he  was  appointed  to  be  a  captain.  Of 
his  claim  to  this  distinction  there  is  no  question,  though  it  would  seem 
that  the  peculiar  state  of  the  country,  prevented  this  act  of  justice 
from  being  performed.  "When  the  Gen.  Washington  was  sold,  Capt. 
Barney  retired  to  private  life,  and  like  all  his  brother  officers  of  the  ma- 
rine of  the  Revolution,  was  disbanded. 

In  1794,  Capt.  Barney  was  one  of  the  six  captains  appointed  in  the  new 
navy,  but  he  declined  taking  the  commission  on  account  of  the  name  of 
Capt.  Talbot  preceding  his  own.  In  1796,  Capt.  Barney  wert  to  France, 
and  not  long  after,  he  was  induced  to  enter  the  French  navy,  with  the 
rank  of  chef  de  division.  On  the  28th  of  May,  he  sailed  from  ?.ochfort, 
for  St.  Domingo,  in  1'Harmonie  44,  having  la  Railleuse  36,"  in  com- 
pany, and  under  his  orders.  After  cruising  some  time  with  these  ships, 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  311 

command,  less  than  half  of  his  flotilla  having  been  de- 
stroyed in  the  Patuxent. 

to  which  a  third,  was  subsequently  added,  he  got  the  command  of 
la  Meduse  and  1'Insurgente,  the  latter  being  the  frigate  that  was  eventu- 
ally lost  in  the  American  navy.  With  these  two  ships  he  came  to 
America,  and  was  watched,  for  several  months,  by  a  superior  English 
squadron.  The  manner  in  which  Com.  Barney  got  to  sea,  when  he  was 
ready  to  sail,  has  always  been  greatly  admired.  The  French  frigates 
dropped  down  gradually  towards  the  sea,  the  enemy  moving  out  be- 
fore them,  until  the  former  had  anchored  just  within  the  capes,  and  the 
latter  were  watching  them,  in  the  offing.  As  soon  as  it  became  dark, 
Com.  Barney  lifted  his  anchors  and  stood  up  the  bay,  until  far  enough  to 
be  out  of  sight,  when  he  again  brought  up.  The  next  morning,  missing 
him,  the  English  supposed  he  had  got  to  sea  in  the  night,  and  made  sail 
in  chase.  Com.  Barney,  in  the  mean  while,  followed  his  enemies  off 
the  coast,  altering  his  course  in  time  to  avoid  them. 

In  1800,  Com.  Barney  quitted  the  French  service,  and  returned  home. 
He  was  engaged  in  commerce,  until  the  war  of  1812.  The  navy,  by  that 
time,  had  become  too  regular  to  allow  of  his  being  received  into  it,  and 
he  accepted  the  command  of  a  privateer.  He  made  only  one  cruise  in 
this  vessel,  and  in  1813,  was  put  at  the  head  of  the  flotilla  in  the  Chesa- 
peake, with  the  rank  of  a  captain  in  the  navy,  though  not  properly  in  the 
service.  His  gallant  conduct  in  that  station,  has  been  shown.  After  the 
war  of  1812,  he  held  a  civil  station  under  the  government,  and  died  in 
Kentucky,  to  which  state  he  had  removed,  December  1st,  1818,  in  the 
59th  year  of  his  age.  The  wound  received  at  Bladensburgh,  is  supposed 
to  have  caused  his  death. 

Capt.  Barney,  or  Com.  Barney,  as  it  was  usual  to  call  him,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  rank  in  the  French  service,  was  a  bold,  enterprising,  and 
highly  gallant  officer.  His  combat  with  the  Monk,  was  one  of  the  neatest 
naval  exploits  on  record ;  and,  in  all  situations,  he  manifested  great  spirit, 
and  the  resources  of  a  man  fitted  to  command.  There  is  little  question 
that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  most  distinguished  officers  of  the 
service,  had  he  remained  in  it;  and  as  it  is,  few  Americans  enjoy  a  more 
enviable  professional  reputation.  Capt.  Barney  is  said  to  hare  been  en- 
gaged in  26  combats,  all  of  which  were  against  the  English,  and  in  nearly 
all  of  which  he  was  successful. 


312  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE  movements  in  the  Chesapeake  were  made  by  a  force 
that  was  assembled  for  other  and  greater  objects,  to  under- 
take which  it  only  waited  for  reinforcements.  The  prin- 
cipal expedition  of  the  year  was  not  commenced  until  near 
the  close  of  the  season,  when  Admiral  Cochrane,  after  col- 
lecting, in  the  different  islands,  a  large  number  of  ships  of 
war,  transports  and  store- vessels,  suddenly  appeared  off  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  This  was  at  the  commencement  of 
December  1814,  and  there  was  no  doubt,  from  the  first,  of 
a  design  to  make  a  formidable  attempt  on  the  important 
town  of  New  Orleans,  most  probably  with  a  view  to  perma- 
nent conquest. 

The  defences  of  the  place,  with  the  exception  of  some 
respectable  fortifications  that  commanded  the  river,  were  of 
a  very  trifling  nature.  The  latter  were  formidable,  and 
they  rendered  it  necessary  either  to  make  a  descent  in  some 
of  the  bayous,  by  means  of  boats,  or  to  destroy  the  works 
by  bombardment.  As  the  latter  required  time,  which  would 
allow  the  Americans  to  assemble  a  force  to  resist  the  inva- 
sion, and  was  of  doubtful  issue,  the  former  project  was 
adopted.  To  hazard  an  attempt  of  the  sort  decided  on,  how- 
ever, it  became  necessary  to  obtain  the  command  of  those 
shallow  waters,  by  which  the  approach  could  only  be  made. 
To  this  object,  therefore,  the  enemy  first  directed  his  at- 
tention. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  313 

At  the  immediate  point  where  New  Orleans  stands,  the 
Mississippi  runs  nearly  east  and  west,  the  site  of  the  place 
being  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  Directly  north  of  the 
town,  distant  but  a  few  miles',  lies  'a  large  body  of  shallow 
water,  that  is  called  Lake  Ponchartrain,  though,  in  truth,  it 
is  merely  a  bay  separated  from  the  waters  of  the  gulf,  by  a 
passage  so  narrow  as  to  resemble  a  river.  This  passage  is 
called  the  Rigolets.  Another  deep  bay  that  puts  in  from  the 
gulf,  and  which  is  connected  with  Ponchartrain  by  means 
of  the  Rigolets,  is  called  Lake  Borgne,  though  it  deserves 
the  name  of  a  lake  still  less  than  the  adjoining  estuary. 
Vessels  of  a  light  draught  can  approach  quite  near  the  town 
by  means  of  these  two  bodies  of  water,  either  by  entering 
Lake  Ponchartrain  or  not,  while  the  ascent  of  the  Mississippi 
is  long,  difficult  and  extremely  crooked.  To  command  the 
approach  by  the  river,  the  fortifications  just  mentioned  had 
been  erected,  while  the  government  was  obliged  to  rely 
principally  on  the  navy  to  furnish  a  protection  for  the  lakes. 
The  us<v  of  steam,  at  that  day,  was  in  its  infancy,  and  the 
water  being  too  shallow  for  vessels  of  any  size,  no  better 
craft  offered  for  this  purpose  than  the  ordinary  gun-boats. 
With  this  view  a  division  of  these  vessels,  accompanied  by 
a  few  light  tenders,  was  kept  in  the  lakes,  and  it  became 
necessary  to  the  enemy  to  destroy  this  force  before  he 
could  trust  his  boats  loaded  with  troops  beyond  the  protec- 
tion of  the  guns  of  his  ships. 

On  the  12th  of  December,  when  the  enemy's  fleet  first 
made  its  appearance  off  the  entrance  of  Lake  Borgne,  a 
division  of  five  gun-boats  was  in  that  bay,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Mr.  Thomas  Ap  Catesby  Jones,  then  a  young  sea 
lieutenant.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Jones  was  apprized  of  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  enemy,  he  reconnoitered  his  force,  and 
having  ascertained  its  strength,  he  retired  higher  into  the 
bay,  with  a  view  to  take  a  position  to  command  the  ap- 
proaches towards  the  town.  There  were  several  small  forts. 


314  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

either  at  the  entrance  of  Lake  Ponchartrain,  or  at  the 
mouth  of  different  bayous,  or  creeks,  that  put  up  into  the 
low  swampy  grounds  below  New  Orleans,  and  it  was  the 
intention  of  Mr.  Jones  to  anchor  near  one  of  them,  at  a  place 
called  les  Petites  Coquilles.  His  vessels  consisted  merely 
of  gun-boats  No.  5,  commanded  by  Mr.  Ferris,  a  sailing- 
master,  and  mounting  5  guns,  with  a  crew  of  36  men;  No. 
23,  Act.  Lieut.  M'Keever,  5  guns  and  39  men;  No.  156, 
Lieut.  Com.  Jones,  5  guns  and  41  men;  No.  162,  Act.  Lieut. 
Spedden,  5  guns  and  35  men;  and  No.  163,  Mr.  Ulrick,  a  ! 
sailing  master,  3  guns  and  21  men;  making  a  united  force 
of  23  guns  and  183  men.  The  metal  varied,  some  of  the 
boats  having  two  long  heavy  guns,  others  but  one,  and  all  ! 
having  two  or  three  short  lighter  pieces.  The  vessels 
themselves,  like  all  gun-boats,  were  low,  easy  of  entrance,  j 
slow  in  their  movements,  and  totally  without  quarters. 

Some  movements  of  the  enemy,  who  appeared  with  a 
large  flotilla  of  barges  and  boats  in  the  bay,  induced  Mr.  : 
Jones  to  expect  an  attack,  on  the  13th,  and  he  got  Under  j 
way  from  the  position  he  then  held,  at  3  30  P.  M.,  to  attain 
les  Petites  Coquilles,  as  mentioned.     A  small  tender,  called 
the  Sea-horse,  had  been  despatched  into  the  Bay  of  St.  , 
Louis,  a  short  time  previously,  to  destroy  some  stores,  am 
about  4  o'clock  the  enemy  sent  three  boats  in  after  her,  tc 
cut  her  out.     The  Sea-horse  carried  one  light  six  pounder, 
and  had  but  14  men.     She  was  commanded  by  Mr.  John- 
son, a  sailing  master.     A  few  discharges  of  grape  drove 
back  the  boats,  which  were  soon  reinforced,  however,  bj 
four  more,  when  a  spirited  little  engagement  ensued.     This 
was  the  commencement  of  actual  hostilities,  in  the  cele« 
brated   expedition   against    New   Orleans.     Mr.  Johnsor 
having  got  a  position,  where  he  was  sustained  by  two  sixes 
on  the  shore,  made  a  handsome  resistance,  and  the  barges 
retired  with  some  loss.     A  few  hours  later,  however,  the 
Sea-horse  and  stores  were  set  on  fire  by  the  Americans,  as 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  315 

it  was  not  possible  to  prevent  them  from  eventually  falling 
into  the  hands  of  a  force  as  formidable  as  that  brought  up  by 
the  enemy.  Not  long  after,  another  tender,  called  the  Alli- 
gator, armed  with  a  4  pounder,  and  with  a  crew  of  only  8 
men,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English. 

About  1  A.  M.,  on  the  14th,  the  flotilla,  which  had  been 
endeavouring  to  gain  a  better  position,  was  compelled  to 
anchor  in  the  west  end  of  the  passage  of  Malhereux  Island, 
on  account  of  a  failure  of  wind,  and  the  strength  of  the 
current.  At  daylight  the  boats  of  the  enemy  were  seen, 
having  brought  up  about  three  leagues  to  the  eastward.  It 
was  a  perfect  calm,  and  a  strong  ebb  tide  setting  through 
the  Pass,  no  alternative  was  left  Mr.  Jones,  but  to  prepare 
obstinately  to  defend,  or  to  abandon  his  vessels.  He  gallant- 
ly determined  on  the  first,  although  the  force  that  would  be 
brought  against  him  was  known  to  be  overwhelming.  Ar- 
rangements were  accordingly  made  to  resist  the  expected 
attack  to  the  utmost.  It  had  been  the  intention  to  form  the 
five  gun-boats  with  springs  on  their  cables,  directly  across 
the  channel,  in  a  close  line  abreast,  but  the  force  of  the 
current  deranged  this  plan,  Nos.  156  and  163  having  been 
forced  about  a  hundred  yards  down  the  Pass,  and  that 
much  in  advance  of  the  three  other  boats.  The  approach 
of  the  enemy  prevented  an  attempt  to  repair  this  great  dis- 
advantage, which  exposed  the  vessels  mentioned  to  being 
assailed  while,  in  a  measure,  unsupported  by  their  consorts. 
When  the  character  of  the  resistance  is  considered,  it  ap- 
pears probable  that  this  accident  alone  prevented  a  victory 
from  having  been  obtained. 

The  English  flotilla  consisted  of  between  40  and  50  bar- 
ges and  boats,  the  former  expressly  constructed  for  the  pur- 
poses of  the  invasion,  and  they  are  said  to  have  mounted 
42  guns,  principally  carronades  of  the  calibres  of  12,  18,  and 
24  pounds.  The  number  of  men  embarked  in  these  boats 
has  been  computed  as  high  as  1200  by  some  accounts, 


316  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

while  by  others,  it  has  been  put  as  low  as  400.  The  sizes 
and  number  of  the  barges,  however,  render  the  latter  ac- 
count improbable,  ten  men  to  a  boat  being  altogether  too 
few  to  gain  belief.  The  truth  would  be  apt  to  lie  between 
the  extremes. 

At  10  39  A.  M.,  the  enemy  raised  his  grapnels  and 
kedges,  and  forming  in  open  order,  in  a  line  abreast,  he 
pulled  up  steadily  to  the  attack.  When  near  enough  to  be 
reached  by  shot,  the  gun-boats  opened  a  deliberate  fire  on 
the  approaching  barges,  though  with  little  effect,  as  they  pre- 
sented objects  too  small  to  be  aimed  at  with  any  accuracy. 
At  11  10,  however,  the  enemy  opened  a  fire  through  his 
whole  line,  and  the  action  immediately  became  general  and 
destructive.  At  11  49,  the  enemy  was  near  enough  to 
make  an  attempt  to  board  156,  which  vessel  was  much  ex- 
posed by  her  advanced  position.  Three  boats  dashed  at 
her,  but  two  were  sunk,  and  the  attack  was  repulsed.  It 
was  renewed  by  four  boats,  which  were  also  beaten  off  with 
a  heavy  loss.  In  repelling  this  last  attack,  however,  Mr. 
Jones  was  shot  down,  when  the  command  devolved  on  Mr. 
Parker,  a  young  midshipman,  who  defended  his  vessel  until 
he  was  severely  wounded  himself,  and  overpowered  by 
numbers.  The  enemy  got  possession  of  No.  156  at  12  10, 
and  he  immediately  turned  her  guns  on  the  other  American 
boats.  No.  163  was  next  carried,  after  a  very  gallant  re- 
sistance, and  No.  162  followed,  but  not  until  Mr.  Spedden 
was  severely  wounded.  The  24  pounder  of  No.  5  had  beei 
dismounted  by  the  recoil,  and  the  fire  of  the  captured  boats 
having  been  turned  on  her,  she  was  also  compelled  to  sub- 
mit. No.  23,  Mr.  M'Keever  was  the  last  vessel  taken, 
hauling  down  her  flag  about  12  30,  when  under  the  fire  of 
the  captured  boats,  and  all  of  the  enemy's  remaining  force 
Capt.  Lockyer  of  the  Sophie  commanded  the  English  flotilh 
on  this  occasion,  assisted  by  Capt.  Montresor  of  the  Man- 
ley  and  Capt.  Roberts  of  the  Meteor. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  317 

Although  the  loss  of  this  division  of  gun-boats  was  a  se- 
rious impediment  to  the  defence  of  New  Orleans,  both  the 
country  and  the  service  looked  upon  the  result  of  the  com- 
bat as  a  triumph.  On  the  latter,  in  particular,  the  resistance 
made  by  Mr.  Jones,  and  the  officers  and  men  under  his  or- 
ders, reflected  great  honour,  for  it  was  known  to  have  been 
made  almost  without  hope.  Circumstances  compelled  the 
assailed  to  fight  to  great  disadvantage,  and  it  would  seem 
that  they  struggled  to  render  their  chances  more  equal  by  a 
desperate  but  cool  gallantry.  In  consequence  of  the  char- 
acter of  this  defence,  it  is  usually  thought,  in  the  service,  to 
bestow  as  much  credit  on  an  officer  to  have  been  present  at 
the  defeat  of  Lake  Borgne,  as  to  have  been  present  at  a  sig- 
nal victory. 

There  is  the  same  disagreement  in  the  published  accounts 
of  the  loss  of  the  British  on  this  occasion,  as  in  the  pub- 
lished accounts  of  their  force.  It  was  the  opinion  of  Lieut. 
Com.  Jones,  who  was  carried  on  board  the  enemy's  fleet, 
that  their  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  nearly  400, 
while  other  prisoners,  who,  from  not  having  been  wounded, 
had  perhaps  better  opportunities  for  ascertaining  facts  of 
this  nature,  have  never  placed  it  lower  than  between  200  and 
300  men.  By  the  official  statement  of  the  enemy,  as  pub- 
lished, his  loss  was  94.  As  this  was  more  than  half  of  the 
number  of  the  Americans  engaged,  it  proves  the  gallantry 
of  the  resistance,  but  it  is  believed  that  the  true  account 
was  varied  for  the  purposes  of  effect*  The  American  loss, 
though  severe,  was  comparatively  trifling. 

*  The  disagreement  in  official  accounts,  in  matters  that  will  not  well 
admit  of  mistakes,  leaves  no  choice  but  to  suppose  intentional  departures 
from  facts  somewhere.  In  the  British  official  account  of  the  battle  of 
New  Orleans,  (8th  January  1815,)  their  loss  in  killed  is  stated  at  293. 
It  is  well  known  that  the  field  was  left  in  possession  of  the  Americans, 
and  that  they  transferred  the  dead  to  the  English  for  burial.  In  his  letter 
of  the  9th  January,  Gen.  Jackson  says,  "  upwards  of  300  have  already  been 

VOL.  II.— 27 


318  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

The  command  of  the  naval  force  at  New  Orleans  had 
been  given  to  Capt.  Patterson,  one  of  the  young  officers  who 
had  been  a  prisoner  at  Tripoli  with  Capt.  Bainbridge.  Capt. 
Patterson  was  a  master  commandant,  and  he  was  assisted 
by  many  excellent  officers,  but  his  force  was  merely  intend- 
ed to  command  the  river  and  the  shallow  waters  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  town.  A  ship  called  the  Louisiana  had  been 
purchased  and  armed  with  16  long  twenty-fours.  Men 
were  pressed  in  the  streets  for  the  emergency,  under  a  law 
of  the  state,  and  the  command  of  the  vessel  was  given  to 
Lieut.  C.  B.  Thompson. 

The  enemy  finding  himself  in  command  of  Lake  Borgne, 
by  the  capture  of  the  gun-boats,  he  sent  up  a  brigade  of 
troops,  under  Major  Gen.  Keane,  which  succeeded  in  en- 
tering a  bayou,  and  in  landing  but  a  few  miles  below  the 
town.  Here  he  encamped,  after  advancing  to  some  hard 
ground,  on  the  night  of  the  23d  of  December,  with  his  left 
flank  resting  on  the  Mississippi.  No  sooner  was  the  position 
of  the  British  known  to  the  Americans,  than  Gen.  Jackson 
marched  against  them  with  all  the  disposable  force  he  could 
assemble,  making  a  total  of  about  1500  men,  and  by  a 
prompt  and  spirited  night  attack  he  saved  New  Orleans. 
The  movements  of  the  troops  on  this  occasion,  were  preced- 
ed by  Capt.  Patterson's  dropping  down  abreast  of  the  Eng- 
lish bivouac,  in  the  U.  S.  schooner  Carolina  14,  and  opening 

delivered  over  for  burial,  and  my  men  are  still  engaged  in  picking  them  up, 
within  my  lines,  and  carrying  them  to  the  point  where  the  enemy  are  to 
receive  them."  Col.  Hayne,  the  American  Inspector  General,  under 
whose  orders  the  dead  were  given  up,  on  the  13th,  reports  them  at  700. 
The  English  report  their  missing  at  475,  and  Col.  Hayne  reports  the 
prisoivers  at  501.  A  private  letter,  written  on  the  13th  says,  "in  one  small 
spot  alone,  on  the  left  of  our  lines,  they  found  368  dead  bodies,"  or  75 
more  than  the  total  loss  of  the  enemy's  official  account.  It  was  of  so 
much  importance  to  impress  the  seamen  with  the  idea  that  the  danger  of 
attacking  in  boats  was  not  great,  that  we  find  a  motive  for  the  difference 
in  the  accounts  of  the  two  parties,  in  the  affair  of  Lake  Borgne.  It  by  no 
means  follows  that  an  officer  writes  what  is  published. 


NAVAL  HISTORT.  319 

a  most  galling  fire.  The  excellent  use  made  of  this  little 
vessel,  on  the  23d,  as  well  as  her  continuing  to  threaten  the 
left  flank  of  the  enemy,  materially  contributed  to  the  general 
success  of  the  campaign,  there  being  no  question  that  the 
check  received  by  the  English  in  the  action  just  mentioned, 
alone  prevented  him  from  marching  into  New  Orleans, 
from  which  town  he  was  distant  only  a  few  miles.  It  had 
been  intended  that  the  Louisiana  should  join  in  this  attack, 
but  the  ship  could  not  be  got  ready  in  time. 

A  few  days  later,  however,  the  Carolina  was  very  criti- 
cally placed.  The  enemy  had  landed  some  guns,  and  the 
wind  having  blown  fresh  for  some  time  at  N.  N.  W.,  it  had 
been  found  impossible  to  ascend  the  stream  against  a  cur- 
rent that  was  even  too  strong  for  warping.  The  armament 
of  the  schooner  consisted  only  of  twelve  pound  carronades, 
and  one  long  gun  of  the  same  calibre.  On  the  morning  of 
the  27th,  the  wind  being  quite  light  at  the  northward, 
the  enemy  opened  upon  the  Carolina,  with  hot  shot  and 
shells,  from  a  five  gun  battery.  The  cannonade  was  returned 
from  the  long  twelve,  the  only  piece  that  could  be  used,  but 
the  schooner  was  soon  set  on  fire,  beneath  her  cable  tiers, 
and  a  little  after  sunrise  Capt.  Henley  was  compelled  to 
give  orders  to  abandon  her.  Before  this  could  be  effected, 
7  men  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  vessel  was  much 
injured  by  shot.  Shortly  after  the  crew  had  got  on  shore  the 
Carolina  blew  up.  During  four  or  five  of  the  most  critical 
days  of  the  campaign,  this  little  vessel  rendered  signal  ser- 
vice, and  the  enemy  have  always  paid  a  just  tribute  to  the 
spirit,  judgment  and  intrepidity  with  which  she  was  managed. 
Her  behaviour  on  the  night  of  the  23d.  reflected  great  credit 
on  Capt.  Patterson,  and  on  all  under  his  order s. 

The  Louisiana  was  now  the  only  vesse  in  the  river  .and 
she  covered  the  flank  of  the  American  lines.  On  board  this 
ship  Capt.  Patterson  repaired,  after  the  loss  of  the  Caro- 
lina. On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  an  advance  of  the  enemy 


320  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

against  the  American  troops,  drew  a  fire  from  and  upon 
the  ship,  which  was  maintained  for  seven  hours.  In  the 
course  of  this  long  cannonade,  the  Louisiana  threw  800 
shot  among  the  enemy,  though  she  suffered  very  little  in 
return. 

After  the  destruction  of  the  Carolina,  her  officers  and 
people  volunteered  to  man  some  of  the  heavy  guns  that 
were  mounted  on  the  American  lines,  and  they  had  a  share 
in  all  the  subsequent  successes  obtained  on  shore.  Capt. 
Patterson  also  erected  a  battery  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
river,  which  was  put  under  the  orders  of  Capt.  Henley,  and 
was  of  material  use.  On  the  8th  of  January  the  English 
made  their  grand  assault,  and  were  defeated  with  dreadful 
slaughter.  In  this  extraordinary  battle,  the  loss  of  the  ene- 
my was  computed  at  from  two  to  three  thousand  men, 
more  than  2000  having  been  killed  and  wounded.  The 
seamen's  battery  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  was  tempo- 
rarily abandoned,  but  the  Louisiana  was  of  great  use,  and 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  service  distinguished  themselves 
by  their  activity,  zeal  and  courage.  On  this  occasion  Capt. 
Henley  was  wounded.  One  gun,  in  particular,  commanded 
by  Mr.  Phillibert,  a  midshipman,  was  served  in  a  manner 
to  attract  general  attention.  The  Louisiana  continued  to 
assist  in  annoying  the  enemy  until  the  night  of  the  18th, 
when  the  English  retreated  to  their  boats,  and  embarked, 
abandoning  their  attempt  altogether. 

Capt.  Patterson  immediately  despatched  several  officers, 
in  command  of  expeditions,  to  intercept  and  annoy  the 
enemy  on  their  retreat,  though  the  want  of  a  direct  com- 
munication between  the  river  and  the  lakes,  prevented  the 
employment  of  any  vessels  larger  than  boats,  on  this  ser- 
vice. Mr.  Thomas  Shields,  a  purser,  who  had  previously 
been  a  sea-officer  in  the  service,  and  who  had  six  boats 
and  50  men  under  his  orders,  was  sufficiently  fortunate  to 
capture  one  of  the  enemy's  large  boats,  with  40  officers  and 


NAVAL  HISTORT.  321 

men  of  the  14th  light  dragoons,  and  14  seamen  on  board. 
After  securing  these  prisoners,  Mr.  Shields  captured  a  barge 
and  a  transport  schooner,  and  subsequently  five  other 
boats,  making  in  all  83  more  prisoners.  Some  skirmishing 
occurred,  and  Mr.  Shields  lost  one  or  two  of  his  prizes  and 
prisoners,  but  he  succeeded  in  bringing  in  with  him  78  of 
the  lattter,  besides  destroying  several  boats.  Mr.  Johnson, 
a  sailing  master,  also  performed  some  service  of  the  same 
nature  with  credit,  destroying  a  transport  and  capturing 
a  party  of  men. 

In  all  the  important  service  performed  in  front  of  New 
Orleans,  during  this  short  but  arduous  campaign,  the  navy 
had  a  full  share,  though  its  means  were  necessarily  so 
limited.  Capt.  Patterson,  Capt.  Henley,  Lieuts.  Jones, 
Thompson,  M'Keever,  Spedden,  Cunningham,  Norris,  Crow- 
ley,  with  several  sailing  masters  and  midshipmen,  distin- 
guished themselves,  OR  different  occasions.  The  service 
also  witnessed  with  particular  satisfaction  the  intelligence 
and  spirited  conduct  of  Mr.  Shields,  an  officer  who  had 
received  his  training  in  its  own  school.  The  marine  corps 
had  its  share,  too,  in  the  honour  of  this  glorious  campaign, 
a  small  detachment  of  it  having  acted  with  its  usual  good 
conduct,  under  the  command  of  Major  Carmick,  who  was 
wounded  in  the  affair  of  the  28th  of  December. 

Although  it  will  be  exceeding  the  rigid  limits  of  a  strictly 
nautical  work,  this  chapter  cannot  be  closed  without  pay- 
ing a  tribute  to  the  gallant  band  of  armed  citizens  that,  in 
the  main,  drove  the  enemy  from  the  shores  of  Louisiana. 
The  attempt  was  made  under  a  false  impression,  which  had 
been  industriously  circulated  in  Europe,  of  an  extensive 
disaffection  to  the  American  Union ;  a  delusion  that  was 
soon  destroyed  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  It  would  be 
difficult  to  find  another  instance  in  history  in  which  a  popu- 
lation, deficient  in  arms,  organization,  training,  and  numbers, 
so  signally  defeated  a  powerful  force  of  disciplined  troops, 

27* 


322  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

accustomed  to  war,  or  manifested  the  same  degree  of 
promptitude,  unanimity  and  spirit,  in  preventing  their  fire- 
sides from  being  violated  by  the  presence  of  a  licentious 
soldiery,  as  was  the  fact  with  the  defenders  of  New 
Orleans. 


IfAVAL  HISTORY.  323 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


WE  have  now  reached  a  period,  when  it  has  become 
proper  to  advert  to  events  on  the  different  lakes,  which 
were  the  scenes  of  some  of  the  most  important,  as  well  as 
of  the  most  interesting  incidents  of  the  war.  In  order  to  do 
this,  it  will  be  necessary  to  return  to  the  commencement  of 
hostilities,  for  the  whole  of  this  portion  of  the  subject  has 
been  reserved,  in  order  to  lay  it  before  the  reader  in  a  con- 
tinued narrative,  having  no  immediate  connexion  with  its 
other  branches. 

The  English  government  had  long  maintained  a  small 
naval  force  on  the  great  lakes;  though  much  the  larger  por- 
tion of  Champlain  being  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United 
States,  it  had  kept  no  cruiser  on  that  water.  On  Lake 
Ontario,  however,  there  were  several  vessels,  as  early  as 
the  commencement  of  the  century,  one  of  which  was  a  ship 
called  the  Earl  of  Moira.  When  the  American  govern- 
ment caused  the  Oneida  16,  to  be  built,  that  of  the  Canadas 
laid  down  the  keel  of  a  ship  called  the  Royal  George,  which 
was  pierced  for  22  guns,  and  which  was  about  one  half 
larger  than  the  American  vessel. 

The  Oneida  was  manned  and  equipped,  at  the  declaration 
of  the  war,  and  was  still  under  the  command  of  Mr.  Wool- 
sey,  who  had  built  her,  four  years  previously.  The  naval 
station  on  the  American  side  of  the  lake,  was  at  Sackett's 
Harbour,  a  beautiful  and  safe  basin,  not  far  from  the  com- 


324  NAVAI/  HISTORY. 

;/..,.„•    t£>    (  ; «  •* 

mencement  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  while  that  of  the  British 
was  nearly  opposite,  at  Kingston.  The  enemy,  however, 
had  greatly  the  advantage  in  ports,  those  of  the  north  shore 
of  this  lake  being  generally  more  commodious  and  easy  of 
entrance,  though  probably  not  as  numerous  as  those  of  the 
south.  The  English  also  possessed  a  material  advantage 
over  the  Americans,  in  all  the  warfare  of  this  region  of 
country,  whether  on  the  water,  or  on  the  land,  in  the  age 
and  more  advanced  civilization,  and,  consequently,  in  the 
greater  resources  of  the  settlements  on  their  southern  fron- 
tier, over  those  on  the  northern  frontier  of  the  United 
States.  It  being  a  common  error  to  associate  the  very  re- 
verse of  this  state  of  things,  as  settlements  recede  from  the 
ocean,  it  may  be  useful  to  explain  the  cause. 

The  views  of  the  French,  when  they  held  the  Canadas, 
extending  to  a  union  between  these  northern  provinces,  and 
those  they  then  occupied  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi,  a  line  of  posts  had  early  been  estab- 
lished along  the  great  waters,  and  around  these  several 
spots  settlements  had  been  made  of  course,  some  of  which 
dated  anterior  to  any  of  the  possessions  of  the  Dutch  in 
New  York,  or  of  the  English  in  Pennsylvania.  Thus  the 
country  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Niagara  river  was 
as  old,  in  the  way  of  civilization,  as  that  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  city  of  New  York;  and  in  many  respects  it  had  all  the 
appearances  and  advantages  of  its  antiquity.  The  same 
was  true  of  other  points  on  the  Canadian  frontier.  Kings- 
ton, which  had  been  called  Frontenac  by  the  French,  was 
a  town  of  some  size,  and  it  enjoyed  the  facilities  and  re- 
sources that  are  produced  by  time  and  care.  On  the 
American  shores  of  all  the  great  waters,  with  an  immate- 
rial exception  at  Detroit,  the  very  reverse  of  this  state  oi 
things  was  the  case.  The  settlements  were  isolated,  poor,; 
and  recent.  Sackett's  Harbour  was  an  insignificant  ham- 
let of  a  dozen  houses;  Oswego  was  but  little  larger,  and 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  325 

no  other  place  worthy  to  be  called  even  a  village,  then 
existed  on  the  American  side  of  Lake  Ontario.  Ogdens- 
burg,  much  the  most  important  port  in  all  that  region,  was 
a  new  village,  about  sixty  miles  down  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  was  of  no  use  as  a  naval  station.  In  addition  to  this 
great  disadvantage,  the  larger  lakes  were  bounded  by 
broad  belts  of  forest,  with  roads  that  were  always  bad,  and 
sometimes  nearly  impassable.  Between  the  Hudson  and  the 
shores  of  Ontario,  a  distance  of  200  miles,  there  existed  no 
other  means  of  communication,  at  that  day,  than  were  offered 
by  the  ordinary  highways,  and  an  imperfect  and  interrupted 
navigation  along  the  waters  of  the  Mohawk,  Wood  Creek, 
Oneida  lake,  and  the  rivers  that  flow  from  the  latter  into 
Lake  Ontario.  Supplies  were  consequently  obtained  with 
great  difficulty,  and  at  an  enormous  expense.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  enemy  possessing  the  outlet  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and,  in  one  sense,  a  command  of  the  ocean,  was  enabled  to 
convey  all  the  required  naval  and  military  stores,  from  the 
warehouses  in  England,  to  the  dock-yards  in  the  Canadas,  by 
water.  It  will,  at  once,  be  understood  that,  while  the  scene  of 
the  warfare  that  is  about  to  be  related,  was  apparently  at  a 
vast  distance  from  the  seat  of  Britsh  power,  as  to  all  practical 
purposes,  it  was  nearer  to  the  resources  of  that  empire, 
than  were  the  naval  stations  of  America  to  the  sea-ports  of 
the  republic. 

At  the  time  war  was  declared,  England,  however,  had 
no  officers  of  her  royal  marine  on  the  American  lakes, 
while  those  who  belonged  to  the  Oneida,  and  to  the  gun- 
boats on  Champlain,  were  regularly  trained,  and  bore  com- 
missions in  the  navy  of  the  United  States.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  this  circumstance  materially  influenced  the  re- 
sults of  the  first  acts  of  hostilities  that  occurred,  the  English 
vessels  being  conducted  by  a  set  of  provincial  seamen,  who 
had  never  enjoyed  a  sufficient  opportunity  of  acquiring  the 
discipline,  or  of  imbibing  the  spirit  of  a  high-toned  service. 


326  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Still  the  British  vessels,  not.  long  before,  had  been  com- 
manded by  one  who  had  passed  his  youth  in  the  English 
navy,  and  a  few  of  his  inferiors  had  also  possessed  limited 
occasions  of  learning  its  practice. 

The  great  superiority  of  the  enemy  in  force,  notwith- 
standing his  known  inferiority  in  discipline  and  compara- 
tive efficiency,  prevented  Lieut.  Com.  Woolsey  from  invit- 
ing hostilities,  which  were  permitted  to  come  from  the 
enemy.  On  the  19th  of  July,  or  about  a  month  after  war 
was  declared,  five  sail  w'ere  discovered  from  the  fort  at 
Sackett's  Harbour,  a  few  leagues  in  the  offing,  and  shortly 
after,  they  captured  a  boat  belonging  to  the  custom  house, 
which  they  sent  in,  with  a  demand  that  the  Oneida  should 
be  surrendered  to  them,  as  well  as  a  schooner  called 
the  Lord  Nelson,  that  had  been  captured  not  long  before 
by  the  brig.  The  Oneida  now  got  under  way,  and  ran 
down  to  windward  of  the  enemy's  squadron,  to  try  her 
sailing,  and,  if  possible,  to  pass  it,  with  a  view  to  escape. 
Finding  the  latter  impracticable,  however,  Lieut.  Com. 
Woolsey  beat  back  into  the  harbour,  and  anchored  his  brig 
close  under  a  bank,  where  she  could  rake  the  entrance. 
All  the  guns  of  her  off  side  were  landed  and  mounted  on 
the  shore,  presenting  a  force  of  16  twenty-four-pound  car- 
ronades  in  battery.  On  a  height  that  commanded  the 
offing,  as  well  as  the  entrance,  was  a  small  fort ;  and  here 
a  long  thirty-tw7o-pounder,  that  had  been  originally  intend- 
ed for  the  Oneida,  in  her  legal  character  of  a  gun-boat, 
was  mounted;  and  the  enemy  still  remaining  outside,  Mr. 
Woolsey  repaired  to  the  spot,  and  took  charge  of  the  piece 
in  person. 

The  enemy  kept  turning  to  windward,  and  having  got 
within  gun-shot,  he  opened  a  slow,  irregular  and  ill-directed 
fire  on  the  fort,  brig  and  batteries.  His  fire  was  returned  ; 
and  after  a  cannonade  of  about  two  hours,  the  English  ves- 
sels bore  up,  and  stood  back  towards  Kingston.  This  was 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  327 

the  commencement  of  hostilities  on  the  lakes,  and  it  fully 
proved  the  incompetency  of  the  officers  in  charge  of  the 
enemy's  force,  for  the  duty  with  which  they  had  been  en- 
trusted. The  English  vessels  consisted  of  the  Royal  George 
22,  Prince  Regent  16,  Earl  of  Moira  14,  Duke  of  Glouces- 
ter, Seneca,  and  the  Simcoe.*  On  the  part  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, no  harm  was  done;  while  the  enemy  is  believed  to 
have  received  some  trifling  injuries. 

It  is  probable  that  the  government  of  Canada  was  itself 
dissatisfied  with  the  result  of  this  first  experiment  of  its  na- 
val forces,  for  soon  after  arrangements  were  made  to  send 
officers  and  men  who  belonged  to  the  royal  navy,  upon  the 
lakes.     It  was  apparent  to  both  nations,  that  the  command 
of  the  inland  waters  was  a  great  requisite  in  carrying  on 
the  war  of  the  frontiers,  and  each  of  the  belligerents  com- 
menced systematic  operations  to  obtain  it.     As  the  enemy 
was  already  much  the  strongest  on  Ontario,  it  was  incum- 
bent on  the  American  government  to  take  the  first  mea- 
sures, and  it  set  about  them  in  earnest,  very  shortly  after 
the  beginning  of  hostilities.     It  being  evident  that  the  com- 
mand was  one  of  the  most  important  that  had  ever  been 
confided  to  an  American  officer,  great  care  was  necessary 
in  the  selection  of  the  individual  to  whom  this  highly  respon- 
sible and  arduous  duty  was  to  be  confided.     The  choice  of 
the  department  fell  on  Capt.  Isaac  Chauncey,  then  at  the 
head  of  the  New  York  navy  yard ;  and  it  was  generally 
admitted,  by  all  conversant  with  his  professional  character, 
that  a   better  selection    could  not  have  been    made.     Of 
tried  firmness  and  spirit,  Capt.  Chauncey  was  one  of  the 
best  practical  seamen  of  the  age,  and  his  knowledge  of 
ships  extended  to  all  those  details  which  would  properly 

*  The  English  changed  the  names  of  their  vessels  in  a  way  to  render  it 
very  difficult  to  trace  them,  or  to  particularize  their  force.  The  Earl  of 
Moira,  a  ship  in  1812,  was  destroyed,  under  another  name,  as  a  brig,  in 
1814,  and  had  been  a  schooner  in  the  interval. 


328  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

come  within  the  scope  of  his  duties.  His  orders  were 
dated  August  31st,  1812,  and  on  the  6th  of  October,  he  ar- 
rived at  Sackett's  Harbour,  in  person.  As  the  command  of 
Com.  Chauncey  extended  to  all  the  lakes,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Champlain,  he  had  employed  the  time  that  inter- 
vened between  the  date  of  his  orders,  and  that  of  his  arrival 
on  the  station,  in  organizing  and  despatching  the  means  for 
creating  the  necessary  force.  Forty  ship-carpenters  left 
New  York  on  the  first  week  of  September,  and  more  fol- 
lowed immediately.  Instructions  were  sent  to  Mr.  Wool- 
sey,  to  purchase  sundry  small  merchant  vessels;  and  on  the 
18th  of  September,  100  officers  and  seamen  left  New  York, 
for  Sackett's  Harbour,  with  guns,  shots,  stores,  &c. 

The  vessels  used,  by  the  Americans,  in  the  navigation  of 
Lake  Ontario,  were  schooners,  varying  in  size  from  30  to 
100  tons;  and  the  first  measure  of  Com.  Chauncey  was  to 
purchase  a  sufficient  number  of  these  craft  to  obtain  the 
command  of  the  lake,  until  vessels  better  fitted  for  war 
could  be  constructed.  A  selection  was  accordingly  made 
of  several  of  the  most  eligible,  by  Mr.  Woolsey,  and  they 
were  bought,  armed,  equipped,  manned,  and  put  into  the 
service,  under  the  names  of  the  Hamilton,  Governor  Tomp- 
kins,  Conquest,  Growler,  Julia,  Pert,  &c.,  &c.  Neither  of 
these  schooners  had  the  construction  or  the  qualities  requi- 
site for  vessels  of  war,  but  they  were  the  best  for  the  service 
contemplated  that  could  then  be  found  on  those  waters. 
Without  quarters,  their  armaments  consisted  principally  of 
long  guns,  mounted  on  circles,  with  a  few  of  a  lighter  des- 
cription that  could  be  of  no  material  service,  except  in  re- 
pelling boarders.  The  keel  of  a  ship  to  mount  24  thirty-two 
pound  carronades,  however,  was  laid  down  in  September, 
or  before  the  commanding  officer  reached  the  station. 

In  conjunction  with  the  Oneida,  the  entire  flotilla  that 
could  be  made  immediately  available  mounted  40  guns, 
and  it  was  manned  with  430  men,  the  marines  included. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  329 

As  the  armament  of  the  Oneida  was  just  16  guns,  it  follows 
that  there  was  an  average  of  4  guns  each,  among  the  six 
other  vessels.  At  this  time,  the  enemy  was  said  to  possess 
on  Ontario,  the  Royal  George  22,  Earl  of  Moira  14,  both 
ships;  and  the  schooners  Prince  Regent  16,  Duke  of  Glou- 
cester 14,  Simcoe  12,  and  Seneca  4 ;  making  a  force  in 
guns,  more  than  double  that  of  the  Americans,  with  a  pro- 
portionate disparity  in  the  number  of  the  crews.  As  cruis- 
ing vessels,  the  enemy's  squadron  possessed  an  advantage 
in  their  size  and  construction,  that  greatly  increased  their 
superiority. 

While  these  preparations  were  making  on  Ontario,  the 
service  on  the  other  lakes  was  not  overlooked.  Owing  to 
the  manner  in  which  the  navigation  is  interrupted  by  the 
cataract  of  Niagara,  there  is  no  natural  communication  be- 
tween the  first  of  these  great  bodies  of  fresh  water,  and  its 
more  western  neighbours,  nor  had  any  artificial  means 
been  attempted  at  that  early  day.  It  was  necessary,  in 
consequence,  to  construct  and  collect  different  squadrons, 
or  flotillas,  for  the  different  waters,  a  duty  that  greatly  in- 
creased the  expense  of  the  preparations,  and  materially 
added  to  the  arduous  character  of  the  command.  As  the 
supplies  for  the  Indian  warfare  of  the  north-west,  as  well  as 
the  protection  of  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  depended,  in 
a  great  measure,  on  the  ability  to  navigate  Erie  and  the 
upper  lakes,  as  the  contiguous  waters  are  termed,  both  sides 
turned  their  attention  early  to  the  means  of  obtaining  an 
ascendency  on  the  former,  which,  it  was  felt,  must  be  the 
place  where  the  contest  was  to  be  decided. 

Previously  to  the  war  of  1812,  there  was  no  vessel  on 
the  upper  lakes,  that  properly  belonged  to  the  American 
marine.  A  brig,  called  the  Adams,  however,  had  been 
constructed  on  these  waters,  for  the  convenience  of  the  war 
department,  which,  under  its  own  officers,  had  long  found 
it  useful  in  the  transportation  of  stores  and  military  sup- 

VOL.  II.— 28 


330  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

plies.  This  vessel  had  no  proper  quarters,  though  insuffi- 
cient substitutes  had  been  provided ;  and  the  peculiar  ser- 
vice rendering  her,  at  all  times,  liable  to  assaults  from  the 
savages  of  the  interior,  she  had  an  armament  of  light  guns. 
By  the  capture  of  Michigan,  however,  the  Adams  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  who  changed  her  name  to  the  Detroit, 
and  took  her  into  their  service.  At  this  time,  the  enemy  pos- 
sessed two  or  three  other  vessels  on  the  upper  lakes,  and  of 
course,  this  capture,  for  the  moment,  gave  them  complete 
command  of  the  waters,  between  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie 
and  the  head  of  Lake  Michigan. 

With  a  view  to  counteract  this  ascendency  Lieut.  J.  D. 
Elliott  was  sent  to  the  upper  lakes,  by  Com.  Chauncey 
about  the  time  that  the  latter  officer  appeared  at  Sackett's 
Harbour,  with  directions  to  purchase  any  suitable  vessels 
that  might  be  found,  and  to  make  preparations  also  for  the 
creation  of  the  necessary  force  in  that  quarter.  While  Mr. 
Elliott  was  thus  employed,  a  fortunate  concurrence  of  cir- 
cumstances put  it  in  the  power  of  this  officer  to  plan  a  blow 
at  the  enemy,  of  which  he  availed  himself  with  a  spirit  and 
promptitude  that  were  highly  creditable.  On  the  morning 
of.  the  7th  of  October,  the  Detroit  came  down  the  lake,  in 
company  with  another  brig,  called  the  Caledonia,  and  an- 
chored under  Fort  Erie,  and  that  very  day  intelligence  was 
received  that  the  first  party  of  seamen  intended  for  the  lake 
was  within  a  short  march  of  the  Niagara  frontier.  Orders 
were  accordingly  sent  to  hasten  their  arrival,  which  actu- 
ally took  place  about  noon  of  the  same  day. 

Finding  that  the  men  were  without  arms,  Mr.  Elliott  ap- 
plied to  Brig.  Gen.  Srnythe,  the  officer  in  command  of  the 
troops  on  that  frontier,  who  not  only  furnished  the  neces- 
sary means,  but  who  handsomely  detailed  a  command  of  50 
soldiers,  to  aid  in  the  enterprise,  under  the  orders  of  Capt. 
Towson  of  the  artillery,  who  had  volunteered  for  the  oc- 
casion. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  331 

Two  of  the  large  boats  used  in  those  waters,  containing 
about  50  men  each,  partly  seamen  and  partly  soldiers, 
were  prepared  for  the  service,  and  they  pulled  out  of 
Buffalo  creek  about  1  A.  M.,  of  the  succeeding  day.  Mr. 
Elliott  commanded  one  of  these  boats  in  person,  seconded 
by  Lieut.  Roach  of  the  artillery,  while  the  other  was  con- 
ducted by  Mr.  Watts,  a  sailing  master,  the  military  com- 
mand belonging  to  Capt.  Towson.  The  first  of  the  two 
boats  laid  the  Detroit  aboard,  and  carried  her  in  the  hand- 
somest manner,  after  a  short  resistance;  Lieuts.  Elliott  and 
Roach  boarding  side  by  side,  and  heading  the  party.  The 
rapidity  and  promptitude  of  the  movement  prevented  any 
loss  of  moment  to  either  side.  The  Caledonia  was  also 
handsomely  carried,  but  not  being  as  accessible  as  the  De- 
troit, she  had  more  notice  of  the  assault,  and  was  enabled 
to  inflict  greater  injury  on  the  assailants,  though  of  materi- 
ally less  force.  Mr.  Elliott  reported  the  Detroit  to  be  armed 
with  6  long  nines,  and  to  have  had  a  crew  of  56  men  in 
her.  About  30  American  prisoners  were  found  in  this 
vessel.  The  Caledonia  had  an  armament  of  2  guns,  and  a 
smaller  crew.  Ten  American  prisoners  were  found  in  this 
vessel  also. 

In  executing  this  duty,  the  boat  under  the  orders  of  Mr. 
Elliott,  had  one  man  killed,  and  Mr.  Cummings,  an  acting 
midshipman,  received  a  wound  from  a  bayonet.  The  boat 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Watts  suffered  much  more,  in 
consequence  of  the  circumstance  already  mentioned. 

The  Caledonia  was  brought  successfully  over  to  the 
American  side,  but  the  Detroit  met  with  greater  difficulty. 
Mr.  Elliott  found  himself  obliged  to  drop  down  the  river, 
passing  the  forts  under  a  brisk  fire,  and  anchoring  within 
reach  of  their  guns.  Here  a  cannonade  took  place,  during 
which  fruitless  efforts  were  made  to  get  lines  to  the  Ameri- 
can shore,  in  order  to  warp  the  brig  across.  Finding  him- 
self assailed  by  the  guns  of  the  enemy's  works,  as  well  as 


332  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

by  some  light  artillery,  Mr.  Elliott  determined  to  cut,  and 
drop  out  of  the  reach  of  the  first,  believing  himself  able  to 
resist  the  last.  This  plan  succeeded  in  part,  but  the  pilot 
having  left  the  vessel,  she  brought  up  on  Squaw  Island. 
The  prisoners  were  now  sent  on  shore,  and  shortly  after 
Mr.  Elliott  left  her,  with  a  view  to  obtain  assistance.  About 
this  time  the  enemy  boarded  the  prize,  but  were  soon  driven 
out  of  her,  by  the  artillery  of  Lieut.  Col.  Scott,  the  Detroit 
being  commanded  equally  by  the  guns  on  both  sides  of  the 
Niagara.  Under  such  circumstances,  the  vessel  was  effec- 
tually rendered  unfit  for  service,  and  in  the  end,  after  re- 
moving most  of  her  stores,  she  was  burned  by  the  Amer- 
icans. 

\  •     i 

This  was  the  first  naval  success  obtained  by  either  na- 
tion, in  the  warfare  of  the  lakes,  and  it  was  deemed  a  for- 
tunate commencement  for  the  Americans,  on  waters  where 
they  might  hope  to  contend  with  their  powerful  foes,  on  an 
equality.  The  conduct  of  Mr.  Elliott  was  much  applauded, 
and  Congress  voted  him  a  sword.  His  promptitude  and 
decision  were  of  great  service,  and  it  adds  to  the  merit  of 
all  engaged,  that  they  thought  the  Caledonia  another  brig 
of  a  force  much  superior  to  what  she  proved  to  be,  when 
they  left  the  shore.  The  army  had  an  equal  share,  in  the 
credit  of  this  dashing  little  enterprise,  Capt.  Towson  who, 
in  effect,  commanded  one  of  the  boats,  though  it  was  neces- 
sarily managed  by  a  sea-officer,  having  particularly  shown 
spirit  and  conduct.  The  names  of  Lieut.  Roach  of  the  ar- 
tillery, Ensign  Prestman  of  the  Infantry,  and  several  volun- 
teers from  Buffalo,  were  also  included  in  the  eulogies  of  the 
commanding  officer. 

Not  long  after  this  successful  exploit,  part  of  the  crew  of 
the  John  Adams  28,  which  had  been  laid  up  at  New  York, 
reached  Buffalo,  to  help  man  the  force  government  intended 
to  equip  on  Lake  Erie.  Mr.  Angus,  his  senior  officer,  ac- 
companying this  party,  and  there  being  a  want  of  lieuten- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  333 

ants  on  the  other  lake,  Mr.  Elliott  now  went  below  to  join 
the  vessels  immediately  under  the  orders  of  Com.  Chaun- 
cey.  Before  quitting  this  station,  however,  this  officer  had 
contracted  for  several  schooners,  that  Jay  in  the  Niagara, 
but  which  it  was  subsequently  found  difficult  to  get  into  the 
lake  on  account  of  the  enemy's  batteries. 

Com.  Chauncey  first  appeared  on  the  lake  on  the  8th  of 
November,  with  his  broad  pennant  flying  on  board  the 
Oneida  16,  Lieut.  Com.  Woolsey,  and  having  in  company 
the  Conquest,  Lieut.  Elliott;  Hamilton,  Lieut.  McPherson; 
Governor  Tompkins,  Lieut.  Brown;  Pert,  Mr.  Arundel; 
Julia,  Mr.  Trant;  and  Growler,  Mr.  Mix;  the  three  last 
named  officers  holding  the  rank  of  sailing  masters.  The 
object  in  going  out,  was  to  intercept  the  return  of  the  ene- 
my's vessels,  most  of  which  were  known  to  have  been  to  the 
westward,  to  convey  supplies  to  the  army  at  Kingston.  In 
order  to  effect  this  purpose,  the  American  squadron,  or  flo- 
tilla, for  it  scarcely  merited  the  former  term,  went  off  the 
False  Ducks,  some  small  islands  that  lie  in  the  track  of  ves- 
sels keeping  the  north  shore  aboard.  As  the  vessels  ap- 
proached the  intended  station  a  ship  was  made  in-shore. 
She  was  soon  ascertained  to  be  the  Royal  George,  then 
much  the  largest  vessel  that  had  ever  been  constructed  on 
the  inland  waters  of  America.  That  a  ship  of  her  force 
should  feel  it  necessary  to  retire  before  the  Oneida,  must  be 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  her  not  being  properly 
officered,  the  enemy  not  having  yet  made  their  drafts  from 
tbe  royal  navy  for  the  service  on  the  lakes.  Com.  Chaun- 
cey chased  the  Royal  George  into  the  Bay  of  Quinte,  and 
lost  sight  of  her  in  the  night.  The  next  morning,  however, 
she  was  seen  again,  lying  in  the  narrow  passage  that  leads 
down  to  Kingston.  Signal  was  immediately  made  for  a 
general  chase,  which  was  vigorously  kept  up,  with  alternate 
squalls  and  light  airs,  until  the  enemy  was  fairly  driven  in 
under  the  protection  of  his  own  batteries. 

28* 


334  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Although  the  wind  blew  directly  in,  and  made  a  retreat 
difficult,  Com.  Chauncey  decided  to  follow  the  enemy,  and 
feel  his  means  of  defence,  with  an  intention  of  laying  the 
ship  aboard,  should  it  be  found  practicable.  Arrangements 
for  that  purpose  were  accordingly  made,  and  a  little  before 

3  P.  M.  the  vessels  that  were  up,  got  into  their  stations, 
and  stood  towards  the  mouth  of  the  harbour.     The  Con- 
quest, Lieut.  Elliott,  led  in  handsome  style,  followed  by  the 
Julia,  Mr.  Trant,  Pert,  Mr.  Arundel,  and  Growler,  Mr. 
Mix,  in  the  order  named.     The  Oneida  brought  up  the 
rear,  it  being  intended  to  give  time  for  the  heavy  guns  of 
the  schooners  to  open  the  way  for  a  closer  attack  by  the 
brig.     The  Hamilton  and  Governor  Tompkins  were  a  con- 
siderable distance  astern,  having  been  sent  to  chase,  and 
did  not  close  for  some  time. 

At  five  minutes  past  3,  the  batteries  on  India  and  Navy 
points  opened  on  the  Conquest,  but  their  fire  was  not  re- 
turned until  seven  minutes  later.  In  three  minutes  after 
the  Conquest  commenced  firing,  she  was  joined  by  the 
other  three  schooners  in  advance.  The  gun  of  the  Pert 
bursted  at  the  third  discharge.  By  this  accident,  Mr. 
Arundel,  her  commander,  was  badly,  and  a  midshipman 
and  three  men  were  slightly  wounded.  The  vessel  was 
rendered,  in  a  great  degree,  useless  for  the  remainder  of 
the  day.  The  Oneida,  though  under  fire  for  some  time  pre- 
viously, did  not  open  with  her  carronades  on  the  Royal 
George,  until  forty  minutes  past  3,  but  when  she  did  com- 
mence the  enemy  was  soon  thrown  into  confusion,  and  at 

4  P.  M.  he  cut  his  cables,  ran  deeper  into  the  bay,  and 
made  fast  to  a  wharf,  directly  under  the  protection  of  the 
muskets  of  the  troops.     Here,  a  part  of  her  people  actually 
deserted  her,  though  they  subsequently  returned  on  board. 
Soon  after,  the  Governor  Tompkins,  Lieut.  Brown,  bore  up 
off  the  harbour,  in  a  beautiful  manner,  and  engaged,  hav- 
ing been  preceded  some  time,  with  equal  gallantry,  by  the 


NAVAL  BISTORT.  335 

Hamilton,  Lieut.  M'Pherson.  The  action  became  warm 
and  general,  and  was  maintained  with  spirit  for  half  an 
hour,  the  enemy  firing  from  five  batteries,  the  ship,  and 
some  moveable  guns.  It  was  now  so  near  night,  the  wind 
blew  so  directly  in,  and  the  weather  looked  so  threatening, 
that  the  pilots  declared  their  unwillingness  to  be  responsi- 
ble any  longer  for  the  vessels,  and  Com.  Chauncey,  who 
found  the  enemy  much  stronger  on  shore  than  he  had  been 
taught  to  believe,  made  the  signal  for  the  flotilla  to  haul  off. 
When  an  offing  of  about  two  miles  had  been  gained,  how- 
ever, the  squadron  anchored,  with  an  intention  to  renew 
the  attack  in  the  morning. 

In  this  spirited  affair,  which  partook  of  the  character  of 
the  assaults  on  Tripoli,  and  which  was  probably  inferior  to 
none  of  the  cannonades  on  that  town,  for  gallantry  and 
vigour,  after  a  due  allowance  is  made  for  the  difference  in 
the  force  employed,  the  Americans  suffered  much  less  than 
might  have  been  expected.  The  Oneida  had  one  man 
killed  and  three  wounded,  and  she  received  some  damage 
aloft.  The  other  vessels  escaped  even  better,  the  audacity 
of  the  attack,  as  is  so  often  the  case,  producing  a  sort  of 
impunity.  Mr.  Arundel,  of  the  Pert,  however,  who  had 
refused  to  quit  the  deck,  though  badly  wounded,  was  unfor- 
tunately knocked  overboard  and  drowned,  while  the  vessel 
was  beating  up  to  her  anchorage. 

The  schooners  behaved  well  on  this  occasion,  creating  a 
high  degree  of  confidence  on  the  part  of  Com.  Chauncey, 
in  his  officers  and  men,  and  a  corresponding  feeling  of 
respect  in  the  latter  towards  their  commander.  The  steady 
manner  in  which  all  the  vessels  beat  up  to  their  anchorage, 
under  a  brisk  fire  from  the  enemy's  guns  and  batteries, 
was  not  the  least  creditable  part  of  their  conduct,  on  this 
occasion.  The  loss  of  the  English  is  not  known,  though  it 
was  evident  that  the  Royal  George  suffered  materially. 
The  feebleness  of  their  resistance  was  probably  owing  to 


336  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  audacity  of  the  attack,  as  they  could  not  have  antici- 
pated that  a  force  so  small  would  presume  to  lie  off  a  place 
amply  provided  with  the  means  of  defence. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  there  was  every  appearance 
of  a  gale  of  wind,  and  the  contemplated  attack  was  deferred. 
At  7  A.  M.  a  signal  was  made  to  weigh,  and  the  flotilla 
turned  out  of  a  very  narrow  passage  into  the  open  lake, 
under  a  press  of  sail,  the  lateness  of  the  season,  and  the 
known  character  of  that  tempestuous  water,  with  the  ap- 
pearances of  foul  weather,  rendering  the  measure  prudent. 
Shortly  after  getting  an  offing,  the  Simcoe  was  seen  and 
chased  into  shoal  water,  under  a  sharp  fire  from  the  Tomp- 
kins,  Hamilton,  and  Julia,  which  cut  her  up  a  good  deal. 
She  escaped,  however,  by  crossing  a  reef,  though  followed 
into  nine  feet  water,  by  Mr.  M'Pherson,  in  the  Hamilton. 
It  coming  on  to  blow  a  gale,  the  pilots  refused  to  remain 
out  any  longer,  and  Com.  Chauncey  was  compelled  to 
return  to  Sackett's  Harbour. 

While  chasing  in  the  Bay  of  Quinte,  a  schooner  was  cap- 
tured by  the  Hamilton,  and  burned,  and  as  the  flotilla  ran 
into  Kingston  it  captured  another,  off  the  mouth  of  the 
harbour.  It  was  found  that  this  prize  could  not  turn  out  of 
the  passage  next  morning,  with  the  other  vessels,  and  the 
Growler,  Mr.  Mix,  was  directed  to  run  down  past  the  port 
with  her,  with  a  view  to  come  up  on  the  other  side  of  the 
island,  and  with  the  hope  that  the  appearance  of  these  two 
vessels  might  induce  the  Royal  George  to  come  out  in 
chase.  The  latter  project  failed,  but  the  Growler  got  safe 
into  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the  13th,  with  this  and  another 
prize,  a  sloop,  having  on  board  a  brother  of  the  late  Gen. 
Brock. 

Intelligence  reaching  Com.  Chauncey,  that  the  Earl  of 
Moira  was  off  the  Ducks,  he  sailed  the  same  day  with  the 
Oneida,  in  a  snow  storm,  to  capture  her,  but  the  enemy 
was  too  much  on  the  alert  to  be  caught  by  surprise,  and 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  337 

the  distances  on  the  lake  were  too  short  to  admit  of  his  being 
easily  overtaken,  in  chase.  The  Oneida  saw  the  Royal 
George  and  two  schooners,  but  even  these  three  vessels 
were  not  disposed  to  engage  the  American  brig  singly. 
The  two  schooners  in  company  with  the  Royal  George  on 
this  occasion,  were  supposed  to  be  the  Prince  Regent  and 
the  Duke  of  Gloucester.  Com.  Chauncey  then  went  ofFOs- 
wego  to  cover  some  stores  expected  by  water.  During 
this  short  cruise  the  Oneida  narrowly  escaped  shipwreck, 
and  the  ice  made  so  fast  that  it  would  have  been  impossible 
to  work  the  carronades  had  there  been  a*  necessity  for  it. 
The  Conquest,  Tompkins,  Growler  and  Hamilton,  notwith- 
standing, continued  to  cruise  off  Kingston,  until  the  17th  of 
November.  On  the  19th  the  Commodore  attempted  to  go 
to  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  was  driven  back  by  a  gale, 
during  which  so  much  ice  was  made  as  to  endanger  the 
vessels.  The  Growler  was  dismasted.  Early  in  December 
the  navigation  closed  for  the  season. 

While  these  events  were  occurring  on  the  lower  lake, 
the  navy  was  not  altogether  unemployed  on  the  upper  wa- 
ters, although,  as  yet,  not  a  single  vessel  had  been  equip- 
ped. A  small  body  of  troops  had  been  collected  at  Buffalo, 
under  Brig.  Gen.  Smythe,  and  it  was  generally  understood 
that  it  was  the  intention  of  that  officer  io  make  a  descent 
on  the  Canada  shore,  as  soon  as  a  competent  force  was  pre- 
pared. Towards  the  close  of  November,  it  was  believed 
that  the  arrangements  were  in  a  sufficient  degree  of  for- 
wardness to  admit  of  an  attempt  to  drive  the  enemy  from 
the  batteries  that  lined  the  opposite  shore,  in  order  to  clear 
the  way  for  the  landing  of  the  brigade.  To  aid  it  in  ex- 
ecuting this  important  service,  the  army  naturally  turned 
its  eyes  for  professional  assistance  towards  the  body  of  sea- 
men collected  at  this  point. 

The  men  of  the  John  Adams  had  encamped  in  the  woods, 
near  the  river,  and  finding  the  enemy  in  the  practice  of 


338  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

cannonading  across  the  Niagara,  shortly  after  their  arri- 
val, they  dove  into  the  wreck  of  the  Detroit,  at  night,  made 
fast  to,  and  succeeded  in  raising  four  of  that  vessel's  guns, 
with  a  large  quantity  of  shot.  These  pieces  were  mounted 
in  battery,  and  a  desultory  cannonading  was  maintained,  by 
both  parties,  until  the  arrival  of  some  heavy  guns  from  the 
seaboard,  when  the  Americans  got  a  force  in  battery,  that 
enabled  them  completely  to  maintain  their  ground  against 
their  adversaries.  In  this  manner,  more  than  a  month  had 
passed,  when  the  application  was  made  to  Mr.  Angus,  for 
some  officers  and  seamen  to  assist  in  carrying  and  silenc- 
ing the  batteries  opposite,  in  order  to  favour  the  intended 
descent.  The  arrangements  were  soon  completed,  and  the 
morning  of  the  28th  of  November  was  chosen  for  the  un- 
dertaking. 

The  contemplated  attack  having  separate  points  in 
view,  the  expedition  was  divided  into  two  parties.  One, 
commanded  by  Capt.  King  of  the  15th  infantry,  was  di- 
rected to  ascend  the  current  a  little,  in  order  to  reach  its 
point  of  attack,  while  the  other  was  instructed  to  descend  it, 
in  about  an  equal  proportion.  The  first  being  much  the 
most  arduous  at  the  oars,  the  seamen  were  wanted  especi- 
ally for  this  service.  Mr.  Angus  accordingly  embarked  in 
10  boats,  with  70  men,  exclusive  of  officers,  and  acconv 
panied  by  Capt.  King,  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  of  150 
soldiers.  With  this  party  went  Mr.  Sam.  Swartout  of  New 
York,  as  a  volunteer.  Lieut.  Col.  Boerstler  commanded  10 
more  boats,  which  conveyed  the  detachment,  about  200 
strong,  that  was  to  descend  with  the  current. 

The  division  containing  the  seamen  left  the  American 
shore  first,  about  1  A.  M.,  with  muffled  oars,  and  pulled  de- 
liberately, and  in  beautiful  order,  into  the  stream.  That  the 
enemy  was  ready  to  meet  them  is  certain,  and  it  is  probable 
he  was  aware  of  an  intention  to  cross  that  very  night. 
Still  all  was  quiet  on  the  Canada  side,  until  the  boats  had 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  339 

passed  out  of  the  shadows  of  the  forest  into  a  stronger  light, 
when  they  were  met  with  a  discharge  of  musketry  and  a 
fire  of  two  field  pieces,  that  were  placed  in  front  of  some 
barracks  known  by  the  name  of  the  Red  House.  The  effect 
of  this  reception  was  to  produce  a  little  confusion  and  disor- 
der, and  some  of  the  officers  and  a  good  many  men  being 
killed  or  wounded,  all  the  boats  did  not  gain  the  shore. 
Those  in  which  efficient  officers  remained,  however,  dash- 
ed in,  in  the  handsomest  manner,  and  the  seamen  in  them 
landed  in  an  instant.  A  body  of  the  enemy  had  formed  in 
front  of  the  barracks,  with  their  left  flank  covered  by  the  two 
guns.  As  soon  as  the  troops  could  be  formed,  the  enemy's 
fire  was  returned,  and  a  short  conflict  occurred.  At  this 
juncture  a  small  party  of  seamen  armed  with  pikes  and 
pistols,  headed  by  Mr.  Watts,  a  sailing  master,  and  Mr. 
Holdup,  made  a  detour  round  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and 
charging  the  artillerists,  took  the  guns,  in  the  most  gallant 
manner,  mortally  wounding  and  capturing  Lieut.  King  who 
commanded  them.  At  the  same  instant  the  remaining  sea- 
men and  the  troops  charged  in  front,  when  the  enemy  broke 
and  took  refuge  in  the  barracks. 

The  enemy's  lire  was  now  very  destructive,  and  it  be- 
came indispensable  to  dislodge  him.  Several  spirited  young 
midshipmen  were  with  the  party,  and  three  of  them,  Messrs. 
Wragg,  Holdup  and  Dudley,  with  a  few  men,  succeeded  in 
bursting  open  a  window,  through  which  they  made  an  en- 
trance. This  gallant  little  party  unbarred  an  outer  door, 
when  Mr.  Angus  and  the  seamen  rushed  in.  In  an  instant, 
they  set  fire  to  the  straw  on  which  the  soldiers  slept,  and 
the  barracks  were  immediately  wrapt  in  flames.  The 
enemy,  a  party  of  grenadiers,  was  on  the  upper  floor,  and 
finding  it  necessary  to  retreat,  he  made  a  vigorous  charge, 
and  escaped  by  the  rear  of  the  building.  Here  he  rallied, 
and  was  charged  by  Capt.  King,  who  had  formed  outside. 

The  party  of  seamen  and  soldiers  now  got  separated,  in 


340  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

consequence  of  an  order  having  been  given  to  retreat, 
though  it  is  not  known  from  what  quarter  it  proceeded,  and 
a  portion  of  both  the  seamen  and  the  soldiers  fell  back  upon 
the  boats  and  re-embarked.  Mr.  Angus,  finding  every  effort 
to  stop  this  retreat  useless,  retired  with  his  men.  But  Capt. 
King,  with  a  party  of  the  troops  still  remained  engaged, 
and  with  him  were  a  few  seamen,  with  Messrs.  Wragg, 
Dudley  and  Holdup  at  their  head.  These  young  officers 
fell  in  with  the  soldiers,  and  a  charge  being  ordered,  the 
enemy  again  broke  and  fled  into  a  battery.  He  was  fol- 
lowed, and  was  driven  from  place  to  place,  until,  entirely 
routed,  he  left  Capt.  King  in  complete  command  of  all  the 
batteries  at  that  point. 

Believing  that  their  part  of  the  duty  was  performed,  the 
young  sea-officers  who  had  remained  now  retired  to  the 
shore,  and  crossed  to  the  American  side,  in  the  best  manner 
they  could.  Most  of  the  seamen,  who  were  not  killed,  got 
back,  by  means  of  their  professional  knowledge;  but  Capt. 
King,  and  several  officers  of  the  army,  with  60  men,  fell 
into  the  enemy's  hands,  in  consequence  of  not  having  the 
means  of  retreat.  The  attack  of  Col.  Boerstler  succeeded, 
in  a  great  degree,  and  his  party  was  brought  off. 

Although  this  affair  appears  to  have  been  very  confused, 
the  fighting  was  of  the  most  desperate  character.  The  im- 
pression made  by  the  seamen  with  their  pikes,  was  long  re- 
membered, and  their  loss  was  equal  to  their  gallantry.  The 
enemy  was  effectually  beaten,  and  nothing  but  a  misunder- 
standing, which  is  said  to  have  grown  out  of  the  fact  that 
the  boats  which  did  not  come  ashore  at  all,  were  supposed 
to  have  landed  and  then  retreated,  prevented  the  attack  from 
being  completely  successful.  Still,  the  batteries  were  car- 
ried, guns  spiked,  barracks  burned  and  caissons  destroyed. 

Owing  to  the  nature  of  the  service,  and  the  great  steadi- 
ness of  the  enemy,  who  behaved  extremely  well,  this  strug- 
gle was  exceedingly  sanguinary.  Of  twelve  sea-officers 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  341 

engaged,  eight  were  wounded,  two  of  them  mortally.  The 
entire  loss  of  the  party  was  about  30  in  killed  and  wounded, 
which  was  quite  half  of  all  who  landed,  though  some  were 
hurt  who  did  not  reach  the  shore.  The  troops  behaved  in 
the  most  gallant  manner  also,  and  many  of  their  offiders 
were  wounded.  Both  Mr.  Angus  and  Capt.  King,  gained 
great  credit  for  their  intrepidity.* 

As  none  of  the  great  lakes  are  safe  to  navigate  in  De- 
cember, this  closed  the  naval  warfare  for  the  year,  though 
both  nations  prepared  to  turn  the  winter  months  to  the 
best  account,  during  the  period  while  the  coasts  were  ice- 
bound. 

•"' ' '         •>    '  '•-'•„'*  •    . 

*  Mr.  Angus,  the  only  commissioned  sea-officer  present,  was  also  hurt 

by  a  severe  blow  in  the  head,  from  the  butt  of  a  musket,  though  not  re- 
ported among  the  wounded.  Messrs.  Sisson  and  Watts,  sailing  mas- 
ters, died  of  their  wounds.  Mr.  Carter,  another  master,  was  wounded. 
Of  the  midshipmen,  Mr.  Wragg,  since  dead,  was  wounded  in  the  abdo- 
men by  a  bayonet;  Mr.  Graham,  now  Commander  Graham,  lost  a  leg;  Mr. 
Holdup,  now  Capt.  Holdup-Stevens,  was  shot  through  the  hand;  Mr. 
Brailesford,  since  dead,  was  shot  through  the  leg,  and  Mr-  Mervine,  now 
Commander  Mervine  received  a  musket  ball  in  the  side.  Mr.  Dudley, 
since  dead,  went  through  the  whole  affair  unhurt,  though  much  exposed. 
Messrs.  Dudley,  Holdup  and  Wragg  remained  in  Canada  to  the  close  of 
the  fighting.  These  three  young  gentlemen,  neither  of  whom  was  yet 
twenty,  met  at  the  water  side  about  day-break,  and  got  into  a  leaky 
canoe,  which  Mr.  Dudley  brought  out  of  a  creek.  The  latter  made  two 
paddles  of  rails,  by  means  of  a  battle-axe,  and  taking  in  three  wounded 
seamen,  and  two  that  were  unhurt,  they  put  off  from  the  English  shore. 
Notwithstanding  they  bailed  with  their  hats,  the  canoe  sunk  under  them, 
close  to  Squaw  Island.  Here  they  dragged  their  wounded  men  ashore, 
got  the  canoe  emptied,  hauled  her  round  to  the  American  side,  and  made 
a  fresh  effort  to  cross,  in  which  they  succeeded,  though  the  canoe  was 
nearly  filled  again  before  they  reached  the  shore.  One  of  the  wounded 
men  died,  just  as  the  party  landed. 


VOL.  II.— 29 


342  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


BOTH  parties  employed  the  winter  of  1812-13,  in  build- 
ing. In  the  course  of  the  autumn,  the  Americans  had  in- 
creased their  force  to  eleven  sail,  ten  of  which  were  the 
small  schooners  bought  from  the  merchants,  and  fitted  with 
gun-boat  armaments,  without  quarters.  In  addition  to  the 
vessels  already  named,  were  the  Ontario,  Scourge,  Fair 
American,  and  Asp.  Neither  of  the  ten  was  fit  to  cruise ; 
and  an  ordinary  eighteen-gun  brig  ought  to  have  been  able 
to  cope  with  them  all,  in  a  good  working  breeze,  at  close 
quarters.  At  long  shot,  however,  and  in  smooth  water, 
they  were  not  without  a  certain  efficiency.  As  was  proved 
in  the  end,  in  attacking  batteries,  and  in  covering  descents, 
they  were  even  found  to  be  exceedingly  serviceable. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  the  new  ship  was  launched  at 
Sackett's  Harbour,  and  was  called  the  Madison.  She  was 
pierced  for  24  guns,  and  her  metal  was  composed  of  thirty- 
two  pound  carronades,  rendering  her  a  little  superior  to  the 
Royal  George.  Nine  weeks  before  this  ship  was  put  into 
the  water,  her  timber  was  growing  in  the  forest.  This 
unusual  expedition,  under  so  many  unfavourable  circum- 
stances, is  to  be  ascribed  to  the  excellent  dispositions  of  the 
commanding  officer,  and  to  the  clear  head,  and  extraordi- 
nary resources  of  Mr.  Henry  Eckford,  the  builder  employ- 
ed, whose  professional  qualities  proved  to  be  of  the  highest 
order. 


*&:  *  v 

1TAVAL  HISTORY.  343 

On  the  other  hand,  the  enemy  laid  the  keel  of  a  ship  a 
little  larger  than  the  Madison,  which  would  have  effectu- 
ally secured  the  command  of  the  lake,  notwithstanding  the 
launching  of  the  latter,  as  their  smalt  vessels  were  altogether 
superior  to  those  of  the  Americans;  and  the  Royal  George 
was  perhaps  strong  enough  to  engage  two  brigs  of  the 
force  of  the  Oneida.  It  became  necessary,  therefore,  to  lay 
down  a  new  ship  at  Sackett's  Harbour,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose a  fresh  gang  of  ship-wrights  went  up  in  February. 

About  this  time,  the  enemy  made  choice  of  Capt.  Sir 
James  Lucas  Yeo,  to  command  on  the  American  lakes. 
This  officer  had  lately  been  wrecked  in  the  Southampton 
32,  and  possessed  a  high  reputation  for  spirit  and  conduct. 
So  much  importance  was  attached  to  the  control  of  these 
waters,  that  great  care  was  had  in  the  selection  of  the  offi- 
cers who  were  to  command  on  them.  So  sensible  were  both 
belligerents,  indeed,  of  the  necessity  of  struggling  for  the 
superiority,  that  each  side  appeared  to  anticipate  an  attack 
in  the  course  of  the  winter,  and  it  is  known  that  one  was 
actually  meditated  on  the  part  of  the  Americans. 

In  the  month  of  March,  however,  Com.  Chauncey  propos- 
ed to  the  government  an  attack  on  York,  (now  Toronto,) 
instead  of  the  one  that  had  been  contemplated  on  Kingston, 
giving  such  forcible  reasons  for  changing  the  plan,  that  his 
advice  was  followed.  It  appears  that  the  enemy  had  commit- 
ted the  fault  of  using  two  different  ports  for  building,  by  which 
mistake  he  necessarily  exposed  himself  to  the  risks  of  an  at- 
tack against  divided  means  of  defence.  As  it  might  give 
the  command  of  the  lake,  for  some  months,  at  least,  to  de- 
stroy a  single  vessel  of  any  size,  the  wisdom  of  the  plan 
proposed  by  the  American  naval  commander  will  be  seen 
at  a  glance. 

In  the  mean  time,  preparations  were  made  for  construct- 
ing a  force  on  Lake  Erie,  two  brigs  having  been  laid  down 
at  Presque  Isle,  (now  Erie,)  during  the  month  of  March. 


344  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

But  the  fact  that  nearly  the  whole  of  the  American  side  of  this 
frontier  was  scarcely  more  than  a  wilderness,  as  well  as  that 
many  of  the  roads  which  existed  were  little  better  than  pas- 
sages among  marked  trees,  and  during  the  spring  and  autumn 
were  nearly  impassable,  rendered  all  the  provisions  of  the 
government  exceedingly  difficult  to  execute,  and  greatly 
retarded  the  preparations.  To  add  to  the  embarrassments, 
it  was  found  that  men  transported  from  the  sea  coast  to 
those  of  the  lakes,  .were  liable  to  contract  a  debilitating 
fever,  more  especially  when  exposed  as  those  necessarily 
were,  who  had  no  regular  dwellings  to  receive  them. 

Fresh  parties  of  seamen  began  to  arrive  at  Kingston  in 
March,  where  the  new  ship  was  fast  getting  ready. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  Mr.  Eckford  put  into  the  water,  on 
the  American  side,  a  beautiful  little  pilot-boat  schooner,  that 
was  intended  for  a  look-out  and  despatch  vessel.  She  was 
armed  with  merely  one  long  brass  nine  on  a  pivot,  and  was 
called  the  Lady  of  the  Lake.  Two  days  later,  the  keel  of 
a  new  ship  was  laid,  that  was  considerably  larger  than  the 
Madison. 

About  the  middle  of  the  month,  the  lake  was  considered 
safe  to  navigate,  and  on  the  19th,  the  squadron  was  reported 
ready  for  active  service.  On  the  22d,  accordingly,  Gen. 
Dearborn  caused  a  body  of  1700  men  to  be  embarked  in 
the  different  vessels,  and  on  the  24th,  owing  to  the  impa- 
tience of  the  army,  which  suffered  much  by  being  crowd- 
ed into  small  vessels,  an  attempt  was  made  to  get  out. 
The  commodore,  however,  agreeably  to  his  own  expecta- 
tions, was  obliged  to  return,  it  blowing  a  gale.  These  few 
days  had  a  very  injurious  effect  on  the  health  of  both 
branches  of  the  service,  as  there  was  not  sufficient  room 
for  the  men  to  remain  below,  and  on  deck  they  were  ex- 
posed to  the  inclemency  of  the  season.  The  Madison  alone, 
a  mere  sloop  of  war,  had  600  souls  in  her,  including  her 
own  people.  On  the  25th,  however,  the  squadron,  consisting 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  345 

of  the  Madison,  Lieut.  Com.  Elliott,  Com.  Chauncey;  Oneida, 
Lieut.  Com.  Woolsey;  Fair  American,  Lieut.  Chauncey ; 
Hamilton,  Lieut.  M'Pherson ;  Governor  Tompkins,  Lieut. 
Brown;  Conquest,  Lieut.  Pettigrew  j  Asp,  Lieut.  Smith; 
Pert,  Lieut.  Adams;  Julia,  Mr.  Trant;  Growler,  Mr.  Mix; 
Ontario,  Mr.  Stevens;  Scourge,  Mr.  Osgood ;  Lady  of  the 
Lake,  Mr.  Flinn;  and  Raven,  transport,  got  out,  and  it  ar- 
rived off  York,  on  the  morning  of  the  25th,  without  loss  of 
any  sort.  All  the  vessels  ran  in  and  anchored  about  a  mile 
from  the  shore,  to  the  southward  and  westward  of  the  prin- 
cipal fort. 

Great  steadiness  and  promptitude  were  displayed  in  ef- 
fecting a  landing.  The  wind  was  blowing  fresh  from  the 
eastward,  but  the  boats  were  hoisted  out,  manned,  and  re- 
ceived the  troops,  with  so  much  order,  that  in  two  hours 
from  the  commencement  of  the  disembarkation,  the  whole 
brigade  was  on  shore,  under  the  command  of  Brig.  Gen. 
Pike.  The  wind  drove  the  boats  to  leeward  of  the  place 
that  had  been  selected  for  the  landing,  which  was  a  clear 
field,  to  a  point  where  the  Indians  and  sharp-shooters  of  the 
enemy  had  a  cover,  but  the  advance  party  was  thrown 
ashore  with  great  gallantry,  and  it  soon  cleared  the  bank 
and  thickets,  with  a  loss  of  about  40  men.  This  movement 
was  covered  by  a  rapid  discharge  of  grape  from  the  ves- 
sels. As  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of  troops  had  got 
ashore,  they  were  formed  by  Gen.  Pike,  in  person,  who 
moved  on  to  the  assault.  The  small  vessels  now  beat  up, 
under  a  brisk  fire  from  the  fort  and  batteries,  until  they 
had  got  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  principal  work, 
when  they  opened  with  effect  on  the  enemy,  and  contri- 
buted largely  to  the  success  of  the  da}%  The  commodore 
directed  the  movements  in  person,  pulling-in  in  his  gig,  and 
encouraging  his  officers  by  the  coolness  with  which  he 
moved  about,  under  the  enemy's  fire.  There  never  was  a 
disembarkation  more  successfully,  or  more  spiritedly  made, 

29* 


346  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

considering  the  state  of  the  weather,  and  the  limited  means 
of  the  assailants.  In  effecting  this  service,  the  squadron  had 
two  midshipmen  slain,  and  15  men  killed  and  wounded, 
mostly  while  employed  in  the  boats.  After  sustaining  some 
loss  by  an  explosion  that  killed  Brig.  Gen.  Pike,  the  troops 
so  far  carried  the  place,  that  it  capitulated.  It  remained  in 
peaceable  possession  of  the  Americans  until  the  first  of  May, 
when  it  was  evacuated  to  proceed  on  other  duty. 

The  capture  of  York  was  attended  with  many  important 
results,  that  fully  established  the  wisdom  of  the  enterprise. 
Although  the  Prince  Regent,  the  third  vessel  of  the  enemy, 
escaped,  by  having  sailed  on  the  24th  for  Kingston,  the 
Duke  of  Gloucester,  which  had  been  undergoing  repairs, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  A  vessel  of  twenty 
guns,  that  was  nearly  finished,  was  burnt,  and  a  large 
amount  of  naval  and  military  stores  was  also  destroyed. 
A  very  considerable  quantity  of  the  latter,  however,  was 
saved,  shipped,  and  sent  to  Sackett's  Harbour.  Many 
boats  that  had  been  built  for  the  transportation  of  troops 
were  also  taken.  In  the  entire  management  of  this  hand- 
some exploit,  the  different  vessels  appear  to  have  been  well 
conducted,  and  they  contributed  largely  to  the  complete 
success  which  crowned  the  enterprise. 

Although  the  brigade  re-embarked  on  the  1st  of  May, 
the  squadron  was  detained  at  York  until  the  8th,  by  a  heavy 
adverse  gale  of  wind.  The  men  were  kept  much  on  deck 
for  more  than  a  week,  and  the  exposure  produced  many 
cases  of  fever,  in  both  branches  of  the  service.  More  than 
a  hundred  of  the  sailors  were  reported  ill  with  the  fever, 
and  the  brigade,  which  had  lost  269  men  in  the  attack,  the 
wounded  included,  was  now  reduced  to  about  1000  effec- 
tives, by  disease.  As  soon  as  the  weather  permitted,  the 
commanding  naval  and  army  officers  crossed  in  the  Lady 
of  the  Lake,  and  selected  a  place  for  an  encampment  about 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  347 

four  miles  to  the  eastward  of  Fort  Niagara,  when  the  ves- 
sels immediately  followed  and  disembarked  the  troops. 

As  soon  as  released  from  this  great  incumbrance  on  his 
movements,  Com.  Chauncey  sailed  for  the  Harbour,  with  a 
view  to  obtain  supplies,  and  to  bring  up  reinforcements  for 
the  army.  A  few  of  the  schooners  remained  near  the  head 
of  the  Lake,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  squadron  went 
below,  where  it  arrived  on  the  llth.  The  small  vessels 
were  now  employed  in  conveying  stores  and  troops  to  the 
division  under  Gen.  Dearborn,  which  was  reinforcing  fast 
by  arrivals  from  different  directions. 

On  the  15th  of  this  month  the  enemy  had  advanced  so 
far  with  his  new  ship,  which  was  called  the  Wolfe,  as  to 
have  got  in  her  lower  masts,  and  expedition  became  neces- 
sary, an  action  for  the  command  of  the  lake  being  expected, 
as  soon  as  this  vessel  was  ready  to  come  out.  On  the  16th 
100  men  were  sent  to  the  upper  lakes,  where  Capt.  Perry, 
then  a  young  master  and  commander,  had  been  ordered  to 
assume  the  command,  some  months  previously.  On  the 
22d  the  Madison,  with  the  commodore's  pennant  still  flying 
in  her,  embarked  350  troops,  and  sailed  for  the  camp  to  the 
eastward  of  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara,  where  she  arrived 
and  disembarked  the  men  on  the  25th.  The  Fair  Ameri- 
can, Lieut.  Chauncey,  and  Pert,  Act.  Lieut.  Adams,  were 
immediately  ordered  down  to  watch  the  movements  of  the 
enemy  at  Kingston,  and  preparations  were  made,  without 
delay,  for  a  descent  on  Fort  George.  On  the  26th  Com. 
Chauncey  reconnoitred  the  enemy's  coast,  and  his  position, 
and  that  night  he  sounded  his  shore,  in  person,  laying  buoys 
for  the  government  of  the  movements  of  the  small  vessels, 
which  it  was  intended  to  send  close  in.  The  weather  being 
more  favourable,  the  Madison,  Oneida,  and  Lady  of  the 
Lake,  which  could  be  of  no  use  in  the  meditated  attack,  on 
account  of  their  armaments,  received  on  board  all  the 
heavy  artillery  of  the  army,  and  as  many  troops  as  they 


348  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

could  carry,  while  the  rest  of  the  soldiers  embarked  in 
boats. 

At  3  A.  M.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  the  signal  was  made  to 
weigh,  and  the  army  having  all  previously  embarked,  at  4 
the  squadron  stood  towards  the  Niagara.  As  the  vessels  ap- 
proached the  point  of  disembarkation,  the  wind  so  far  failed, 
as  to  compel  the  small  vessels  to  employ  their  sweeps.  The 
Growler,  Mr.  Mix,  and  Julia,  Mr.  Trant,  swept  into  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  and  opened  on  a  battery  near  the  light 
house.  The  Ontario,  Mr.  Stevens,  anchored  more  to  the 
northward  to  cross  their  fire.  The  Hamilton,  Lieut. 
M'Pherson,  the  Asp,  Lieut.  Smith,  and  the  Scourge,  Mr. 
Osgood,  were  directed  to  stand  close  in,  to  cover  the 
landing,  and  to  scour  the  woods,  or  any  point  where  the 
enemy  might  show  himself,  with  grape-shot;  while  the 
Governor  Tompkins,  Lieut.  Brown,  and  Conquest,  Lieut. 
Pettigrew,  were  sent  farther  to  the  westward  to  attack  a 
battery  that  mounted  one  heavy  gun. 

Capt.  Perry  had  come  down  from  the  upper  lake  on  the 
evening  of  the  25th,  and  on  this  occasion  was  the  sea-officer 
second  in  rank,  present.  Com.  Chauncey  confided  to  him  the 
duty  of  attending  to  the  disembarkation  of  the  troops.  The 
marines  of  the  squadron  were  embodied  with  the  regiment 
of  Col.  M'Comb,  and  400  seamen  \vere  held  in  reserve,  to 
land,  if  necessary,  under  the  immediate  orders  of  the  com- 
modore in  person.  , 

When  all  was  ready,  the  schooners  swept  into  their  sta- 
tions, in  the  handsomest  manner,  opening  their  fire  with 
effect.  The  boats  that  contained  the  advance  party,  under 
Col.  Scott,  were  soon  in  motion,  taking  a  direction  towards 
the  battery  near  Two  Mile  Creek,  against  which  the  Gover- 
nor Tompkins  and  Conquest  had  been  ordered  to  proceed. 
The  admirable  manner  in  which  the  first  of  these  two  little 
vessels  was  conducted,  drew  the  applause  of  all  who  wit- 
nessed it,  on  Mr.  Brown  and  his  people.  This  officer 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  349 

swept  into  his  station,  under  fire,  in  the  steadiest  manner, 
anchored,  furled  his  sails,  cleared  his  decks,  and  prepared 
to  engage,  with  as  much  coolness  and  method,  as  if  coming- 
to  in  a  friendly  port.  He  then  opened  with  his  long  gun, 
with  a  precision  that,  in  about  ten  minutes,  literally  drove 
the  enemy  from  the  battery,  leaving  the  place  to  his  dead. 
The  boats  dashed  in,  under  Capt.  Perry,  and  Col.  Scott 
effected  a  landing  with  the  steadiness  and  gallantry  for  which 
that  officer  is  so  distinguished.  The  enemy  had  concealed  a 
strong  party  in  a  ravine,  and  he  advanced  to  repel  the  boats, 
but  the  grape  and  canister  of  the  schooners,  and  the  steady 
conduct  of  the  troops  soon  drove  him  back.  The  moment 
the  command  of  Col.  Scott  got  ashore,  the  success  of  the 
day  was  assured.  He  was  sustained  by  the  remainder  of 
the  brigade  to  which  he  belonged,  then  commanded  by 
Brig.  Gen.  Boyd,  and  after  a  short  but  sharp  conflict,  the 
enemy  was  driven  from  the  field.  The  landing  was  made 
about  9  A.  M.,  and  by  12  M.  the  town  and  fort  were  in 
quiet  possession  of  the  Americans,  the  British  blowing  up 
and  evacuating  the  latter,  and  retreating  towards  Queenston. 

In  this  handsome  affair,  in  which  the  duty  of  the  vessels 
was  performed  with  coolness  and  method,  the  navy  had  but 
one  man  killed  and  two  wounded.  So  spirited,  indeed,  was 
the  manner  in  which  the  whole  duty  was  conducted,  that 
the  assailants  generally  suffered  much  less  than  the  assailed, 
a  circumstance  that  is,  in  a  great  measure,  to  be  ascribed 
to  the  good  conduct  of  the  covering  vessels.  Gen.  Dear- 
born reported  his  loss,  on  this  occasion,  at  only  17  killed 
and  45  wounded,  while  he  puts  that  of  the  enemy  at  90 
killed,  and  160  wounded,  most  of  whom  were  regular 
troops.  One  hundred  prisoners  were  also  made. 

Both  the  commanding  general,  and  the  commanding  sea- 
officer,  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  conduct  of  the  na- 
val force  employed  in  the  descent  on  Fort  George.  General 
Dearborn  admitted  the  extent  of  his  obligations  to  Com. 


350  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Chauncey  for  the  excellent  dispositions  he  had  made  for 
landing  the  troops,  always  a  service  of  delicacy  and  hazard, 
and  his  judicious  arrangements  for  silencing  the  batteries, 
under  the  fire  of  which  it  was  necessary  to  approach  the 
shore.  The  trifling  amount  of  the  loss,  is  the  best  evidence 
how  much  these  thanks  were  merited.  Com.  Chauncey 
himself  commended  all  under  his  orders,  though  he  felt  it 
due  to  their  especial  services,  particularly  to  mention  Capt. 
Perry,  and  Lieut.  M'Pherson.  Lieut.  Brown,  of  the  Gov. 
Tompkins,  was  signally  distinguished,  though  his  name, 
from  some  accident,  was  omitted  in  the  despatches. 

The  occupation  of  Fort  George  brought  with  it  an 
evacuation  by  the  British  of  the  whole  Niagara  frontier. 
Lieut.  Col.  Preston  took  possession  of  Fort  Erie  on  the 
evening  of  the  28th,  and  the  entire  river,  for  the  moment, 
was  left  at  the  command  of  the  Americans.  By  this  suc- 
cess, the  squadron  obtained  the  temporary  use  of  another 
port,  Com.  Chauncey  running  into  the  Niagara  and  an- 
choring, on  the  afternoon  of  the  27th.  Capt.  Perry  was  im- 
mediately despatched  above  the  falls,  with  a  small  party  of 
seamen,  to  carry  up  five  vessels  that  had  been  purchased,  or 
captured,  and  which  it  had  not  been  practicable,  hitherto, 
to  get  past  the  enemy's  batteries.  This  duty  was  per- 
formed by  Capt.  Perry,  during  the'  first  days  of  June,  though 
not  without  infinite  labour,  as  he  was  obliged  to  track  the 
different  vessels  by  the  aid  of  oxen,  every  inch  of  the  way, 
against  the  strong  current  of  the  Niagara,  a  party  of  sol- 
diers lending  their  assistance.  By  the  close  of  the  month, 
this  zealous  officer  had  got  them  all  across  the  lake  to 
Presque  Isle,  where  the  two  brigs,  laid  down  early  in  the 
spring,  were  launched  in  the  course  of  the  month  of  May, 
though  their  equipment  proceeded  very  slowly  from  the 
state  of  the  roads,  and  a  want  of  men. 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  351 

>":'.•.•.  .,,••.>:, 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


WHILE  these  important  movements  were  in  the  course  of 
execution  near  the  western  end  of  the  lake,  others  of  equal 
magnitude  were  attempted  near  its  eastern.  The  descent 
on  Fort  George  took  place  on  the  27th  of  May,  and  almost 
at  the  same  moment,  Sir  George  Prevost,  the  British  Com- 
mander-in-chief and  Com.  Sir  J.  L.  Yeo,  meditated  a  coup 
de  main  against  Sackett's  Harbour,  in  revenge  for  the  blow 
they  had  received  at  York.  By  destroying  the  new  ship, 
Com.  Yeo  would  most  probably  secure  a  superiority  on  the 
lake  for  the  remainder  of  the  season,  the  Americans  having 
no  other  cruising  vessel  but  the  Madison,  fit  to  lie  against 
the  Wolfe  or  Royal  George. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  May,  the  Wolfe,  Royal 
George,  Moira,  Prince  Regent,  Simcoe  and  Seneca,  with 
two  gun-boats,  and  a  strong  brigade  of  barges  and  flat  bot- 
tomed boats,  appeared  off  Sackett's  Harbour.  When  about 
two  leagues  from  the  shore,  a  considerable  party  of  troops 
was  placed  in  the  boats,  and  the  whole  squadron  bore  up,  with 
an  intention  to  land ;  but  their  attention  was  diverted  by  the 
appearance  to  the  westward,  of  a  brigade  containing  nine- 
teen boats,  which  were  transporting  troops  to  the  Harbour. 
The  enemy  immediately  sent  his  own  barges  in  pursuit,  and 
succeeded  in  driving  12  boats  on  shore,  and  in  capturing 
them,  though  not  until  they  had  been  abandoned  by  the 
Americans.  The  remaining  7  got  into  the  Harbour.  Ho- 


352  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

ping  to  intercept  another  party,  the  enemy  now  hauled  to  the 
westward,  and  sent  his  boats  ahead  to  lie  in  wait,  and  the 
intention  to  disembark  that  afternoon  was  abandoned. 

As  the  day  dawned,  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  a  strong 
division  of  barges,  filled  with  troops,  and  covered  by  the 
two  gun-boats,  was  seen  advancing  upon  Horse  Island,  a 
peninsula  at  a  short  distance  from  the  village-  of  Sackett's 
Harbour.  A  body  of  about  800  men  effected  a  landing,  ac- 
companied by  Sir  George  Prevost  in  person,  and  an  irregu- 
lar and  desultory,  but  spirited  engagement  took  place.  At 
first,  the  enemy  drove  all  before  him,  and  he  advanced  quite 
near  the  town,  but  being  met  by  a  detachment  of  regulars, 
he  was  driven  back  with  loss,  and  compelled  to  abandon 
his  enterprise. 

In  this  affair,  had  the  enemy's  vessels  done  as  good  ser- 
vice as  the  American  vessels  performed  near  the  Niagara, 
the  result  might  have  been  different;  but,  though  some  of 
them  swept  up  pretty  near  the  shore,  they  were  of  no  assist- 
ance to  the  troops.  Unfortunately  false  information  was  given 
to  the  sea-officer  in  charge  of  the  store-houses,  and  he  set 
fire  to  them,  by  which  mistake,  not  only  most  of  the  stores  „ 
taken  at  York,  but  many  that  had  come  from  the  sea-board 
were  consumed.  But  for  this  accident,  the  enemy  would 
have  had  no  consolation  for  his  defeat. 

Information  reached  Com.  Chauncey  on  the  30th  of  May,  | 
that  the  enemy  was  out,  and  he  immediately  got  under  way 
from  the  Niagara,  looked  into  York,  then  ran  off  Kingston,  £; 
but  falling  in  with  nothing,  he  crossed  to  the   Harbour, 
where  he  anchored;  being  satisfied  that  the  English  squad-  ' 
ron  had  returned  to  port. 

Every  exertion  was  now  made  to  get  the  new  ship  afloat,  * 
Com.  Chauncey  rightly  thinking  he  should  not  be  justified 
in  venturing  an  action  with  his  present  force.   Although  he 
had  fourteen  sail  of  vessels,  which  mounted  altogether  82 
guns,  but  two  had  quarters,  or  were  at  all  suited  to  close 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  353 

action.  As  both  the  Madison  and  Oneida  had  been  construct- 
ed for  a  very  light  draught  of  water,  neither  was  weather- 
ly,  though  the  former  acquitted  herself  respectably ;  but  the 
latter  was  dull  on  all  tacks,  and  what  might  not  have  been 
expected  from  her  construction,  particularly  so  before  the 
wind.  The  schooners  were  borne  down  with  metal,  and 
could  be  of  no  great  service  except  at  long  shot.  On  the 
other  hand,  all  the  enemy's  vessels  had  quarters,  most  of 
them  drew  more  water,  relatively,  and  held  a  better  wind 
than  the  Americans,  and  as  a  whole  they  were  believed  to 
mount  about  the  same  number  of  guns.  In  the  way  of 
metal  the  English  large  ships  were  decidedly  superior  to  the 
two  largest  American  vessels,  mounting  some  68  pound 
carronades  among  their  other  guns. 

The  keel  of  the  new  ship  had  been  laid  on  the  9th  of 
April,  and  she  was  got  into  the  water  June  12lh,  notwith- 
standing Mr.  Eckford  had  been  compelled  to  take  off  his 
carpenters  to  make  some  alterations  on  the  vessels  in  the 
Niagara.  This  ship  was  a  large  corvette,  and  was  pierced 
for  26  guns,  long  twenty-fours,  and  she  mounted  two  more 
on  circles;  one  on  a  lop-gallant  forecastle,  and  the  other  on 
the  poop.  The  day  before  the  launch,  Capt.  Sinclair  arrived 
and  was  appointed  to  this  vessel,  which  was  called  the 
Gen.  Pike.  Lieut.  Trenchard,  who  arrived  at  the  same 
time,  received  the  command  of  the  Madison.  About  this 
time  a  considerable  promotion  occurred  in  the  navy,  by 
means  of  which,  Capt.  Sinclair  was  posted.  Mr.  Woolsey, 
Mr.  Trenchard  and  Mr.  Elliott,  all  of  whom  served  on 
the  lakes,  were  raised  to  the  rank  of  masters  and  comman- 
ders, though  several  weeks  elapsed  before  the  commissions 
were  received.  Messrs.  Holdup,  Dudley,  Packett,  Yarnall, 
Wragg,  Adams,  Pearce,  Edwards,  Jones,  Conklin  and  Smith, 
gentlemen  who  had  also  been  detached  for  this  service, 
and  most  of  whom  had  been  acting,  were  regularly  raised 
to  the  rank  of  lieutenants.  It  was,  however,  a  just  cause 

VOL.  II.— 30 


354  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

of  complaint,  with  all  the  commanders  on  the  different  lakes, 
that  so  few  officers  of  experience  were  sent  to  serve  under 
them.  Most  of  the  gentlemen  just  named  had  been  to  sea  ; 
but  four  or  five  years,  and  they  were  generally  as  young  in 
years  as  they  were  in  experience.  That  they  subsequently 
acquitted  themselves  well,  is  owing  to  the  high  tone  of  the 
service  to  which  they  belonged.* 

Although  the  Pike  was  so  near  completion,  there  were 
neither  officers  nor  men  for  her,  on  the  station ;  and  the 
canvass  intended  for  her  sails  had  been  principally  burned 
during  the  late  attack  on  the  Harbour.  At  this  time,  more- 
over, while  the  service  pressed,  but  120  men  had  been  sent 
on  Lake  Erie,  Com.  Chauncey  having  entertained  hopes  of 
being  able  to  reinforce  that  station  from  below,  after  defeat- 
ing the  enemy. 

Lake  Champlain  had  attracted  but  little  of  the  attention 
of  either  of  the  belligerents  until  this  summer,  as  it  did  not 
come  in  the  line  of  the  military  operations  of  the  day.  Some 
small  vessels,  however,  had  been  fitted  out,  on  each  side  of 
the  frontier,  and  on  the  3d  of  June,  Lieut.  Sidney  Smith, 
who  then  commanded  on  the  lake,  ventured  down  into  the 
narrow  part  of  that  water,  with  two  armed  sloops  called 
the  Eagle  and  the  Growler,  where  he  was  completely  ex- 

*  It  will  be  a  subject  of  melancholy  interest  to  note  the  fortunes  of  the 
first  promotions  of  1813.  Capts.  Tarbell  and  Sinclair — both  dead.  Mas- 
ters-commandant— Warrington,  M'Donough,(4)  Ridgely,  Angus,  Blake- 
ly,(2)  Allen,(3)  Woolsey,(4)  Spence,(4)  Creighton,(4)  Trenchard,(4)  .- 
Downes,  Parker,  (4)  Patterson,  Henley,(4)  Elliott.  Lieutenants — Al- 
len,(3)  M'Knight,(2)  Conner,  Gallagher,  Holdup,  Bullus,(4)  Dudley, (4) 
Oellers,  Hunter,  Sloat,  Packett,(4)  Cocke,(3)  Yarnall,(2)  Perry,  Skinner, 
Wragg,(4)  Saunders,(4)  Keilly,(2)  Adams,  (4)  Cox,  Madison,  (2)  Tay- 
lor,(4)  Pearce,(4)  Smith(4),  Newcombe,(2)  Nicholson, (4)  Tillinghast,(2) 
Edwards,(4)  Norris,(2)  Newton,  Jones,  Henley,(4)  Conklin,  Smith,(4) 
Beatty,(4)  Rousseau,  Stover,  Stansbury, (4)  Hamilton, (3)  Kapp,(4)  Ger- 
man, (4)  Cassin,(4)  Rose,  (4)  and  Kennon. 

(4)  Dead,     (2)  Lost  at  sea.     (3)  Killed. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  355 

posed  to  the  fire  of  musketry  from  a  body  of  troops  on  the 
land.  It  appears  that  the  Eagle  sunk,  her  seams  having 
opened  by  the  discharges  of  her  guns,  and  the  Growler  \vas 
compelled  to  strike,  the  wind  being  fresh  at  south,  render- 
ing a  retreat  impossible.  On  this  occasion,  near  a  hundred 
prisoners  were  made  by  the  enemy,  a  considerable  portion 
of  whom  were  volunteers  from  the  army. 

After  this  loss,  the  government  turned  its  attention  to- 
wards the  construction  of  .a  naval  force  on  that  lake,  but 
its  movements  were  slow,  the  state  of  the  warfare  not  ap- 
pearing to  require  much  exertion  in  that  quarter.  After 
the  capture  of  Mr.  Smith,  however,  Lieut.  Thomas  M'Do- 
nough,  an  officer  who  had  distinguished  himself  as  the  as- 
sociate of  Decatur,  in  his  chivalrous  exploits  before  Tripoli, 
was  detached  for  this  service,  and  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  lake.  Shortly  after,  Mr.  M'Donough  was 
raised  to  the  rank  of  a  master  and  commander,  but  so  few 
men  were  attached  to  this  station,  that  when  this  gallant 
officer  first  reached  it,  and  even  for  some  time  afterwards, 
he  actually  worked  with  his  own  hands,  strapping  blocks, 
and  performing  other  similar  duties,  in  order  to  prepare 
some  small  vessels  for  service.  An  inroad  made  by  the 
enemy,  about  this  time,  a  little  quickened  the  efforts  of  the 
government,  however;  for  on  the  1st  of  August,  Capt.  Ever- 
ard,  of  the  British  navy,  at  the  head  of  a  force  consisting  of 
the  two  captured  sloops,  three  gun-boats,  and  several  bat- 
teaux,  made  an  incursion  as  far  as  Plattsburgh,  where  he 
destroyed  a  considerable  amount  of  stores.  He  also  cap- 
tured several  small  trading  vessels  before  he  returned.  As 
Capt.  M'Donough  had  no  force  equal  to  resisting  such  in- 
roads, exertions  were  made  to  equip  one  that  should  pre- 
vent their  repetition,  for,  in  consequence  of  the  territorial 
division  of  this  lake,  its  warfare,  on  the  part  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, was  principally  defensive. 

In  the   mean  time,  the  efforts   on    Ontario   continued. 


356  If  AVAL  HISTORY. 

One  of  the  small  vessels  was  constantly  kept  cruising  be- 
tween the  Ducks  and  Kingston,  to  watch  the  enemy,  it 
being  known  that  he  was  now  much  superior  in  force. 
Early  in  June,  the  British  squadron  went  up  the  lake,  most 
probably  to  transport  troops,  quitting  port  in  the  night;  but 
Com.  Chauncey  very  properly  decided  that  the  important 
interests  confided  to  his  discretion  required  that  he  should 
not  follow  it,  until  his  squadron  was  reinforced  by  the  ac- 
cession of  the  Pike,  to  get  which  vessel  ready,  every  possible 
exertion  was  making. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  Lieut.  W. 
Chauncey,  left  the  Harbour  to  cruise  offPresque  Isle,  to  in- 
tercept the  stores  of  the  enemy;  and  on  the  IGth,  she  cap- 
tured the  schooner  Lady  Murray,  loaded  with  provisions, 
shot,  and  fixed  ammunition.  This  vessel  was  in  charge  of 
an  ensign  and  15  men,  the  prisoners  amounting,  in  all,  to 
twenty-one.  Mr.  Chauncey  carried  his  prize  into  the  Har- 
bour on  the  18th,  passing  quite  near  the  enemy's  squadron. 
The  prisoners  reported  the  launch  of  a  new  brig  at  Kings- 
ton. 

About  this  time,  the  enemy's  squadron,  consisting  of  the 
Wolfe,  Royal  George,  Moira,  Melville,  Berresford,  Sidney 
Smith,  and  one  or  two  gnn-boats,  appeared  off  Oswego. 
Preparations  were  made  to  disembark  a  party  of  troops,  but 
the  weather  becoming  threatening,  Sir  James  Yeo  was  in- 
duced to  defer  the  descent,  and  stood  to  the  westward.  He 
then  went  off  the  Genesee,  where  some  provisions  were 
seized  and  carried  off,  and  a  descent  was  made  at  Great 
Sodus,  with  a  similar  object,  but  which  failed,  though  seve- 
ral buildings  were  burned,  and  some  flour  was  carried 
away.  Shortly  before,  he  had  appeared  off  the  coast,  to  the 
westward  of  the  Niagara,  seizing  some  boats  belonging  to 
the  army,  loaded  with  stores.  Two  vessels,  similarly  em- 
ployed, were  also  captured. 

On  the  23d  of  June,  14  of  the  guns,  and  a  quantity  of  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  357 

rigging  for  the  Pike  reached  the  harbour;  and  the  next 
day,  Com.  Chauncey  advised  the  government  to  commence 
building  a  large  fast  sailing  schooner.  This  recommenda- 
tion was  followed,  and  the  keel  of  a  vessel  that  was  subse- 
quently called  the  Sylph,  was  soon  after  laid,  her  size 
being  determined  by  the  nature  of  the  materials  necessary 
for  her  equipment,  which  were  principally  on  the  spot. 

It  was  the  last  of  June  before  the  people  began  to  arrive 
for  the  Pike;  the  first  draft,  consisting  of  only  35  men,  reach- 
ing the  harbour  on  the  20th  of  that  month.  These  were 
followed,  on  the  1st  of  July,  by  94  more,  from  Boston.  It 
was  thought,  by  the  assistance  of  the  army,  that  the  ship 
might  be  got  out,  with  the  aid  of  these  men.  In  estimating 
the  embarrassments  of  the  lake  service,  in  general,  the  re- 
luctance of  the  sailors  of  the  country  to  serve  on  those  wa- 
ters should  not  be  overlooked.  The  stations  were  known 
to  be  sickly,  the  service  was  exceedingly  arduous,  several 
winter  months  were  to  be  passed,  under  a  rigorous  climate, 
in  harbours  that  had  none  of  the  ordinary  attractions  of  a 
seaport,  and  the  chances  for  prize-money,  were  too  insig- 
nificant to  enter  into  the  account.  At  this  period  in  the 
history  of  the  navy,  the  men  were  entered  for  particular 
ships,  and  not  for  the  general  service,  as  at  present ;  and 
it  would  have  been  nearly  impossible  to  procure  able  sea- 
men for  this  unpopular  duty,  had  not  the  means  been  found 
to  induce  parts  of  crews  to  follow  their  officers  from  the 
Atlantic  coast,  as  volunteers.  A  considerable  party  had 
been  sent  from  the  Constitution,  to  Lake  Ontario,  after  her 
return  from  the  coast  of  Brazils,  and  the  arrival  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  crew  of  the  John  Adams,  on  Lake  Erie,  has 
already  been  mentioned.  On  the  8th  of  July,  Capt.  Crane 
arrived  from  the  same  ship ;  and  two  days  later,  he  was 
followed  by  all  the  officers  and  men  of  that  vessel,  for 
which  a  new  crew  had  been  enlisted.  This  timely  rein- 
forcement was  assigned,  in  a  body,  to  the  Madison,  that 

30* 


358  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

ship  being  nearly  of  the  size  and  force  of  the  vessel  from 
which  they  came. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  1st  of  July,  however,  or  pre- 
viously to  this  important  accession  to  his  force,  a  deserter 
came  in  and  reported  that  Sir  James  Yeo  had  left  Kingston 
the  previous  night,  in  20  large  boats,  with  a  body  of  800 
or  1000  men,  with  which  he  had  crossed  and  landed  in 
Chaumont  Bay,  about  seven  miles  from  the  Harbour.  Here 
he  had  encamped  in  the  woods,  concealing  his  boats  with  the 
branches  of  trees,  with  an  intention  to  make  an  attack  on 
the  American  squadron,  in  the  course  of  the  approaching 
night.  Preparations  were  accordingly  made  to  receive  the 
expected  assault,  but  the  enemy  did  not  appear.  On  the 
following  morning,  Com.  Chauncey  went  out  with  the  ves- 
sels that  were  ready,  and  examined  the  shore,  but  the  enemy 
could  not  be  found.  At  sunset  he  returned,  and  moored 
the  vessels  in  readiness  for  the  attack.  Still  no  enemy  ap- 
peared. That  night  and  the  succeeding  day,  five  more  de- 
serters came  in,  all  corroborating  each  other's  accounts,  by 
which  it  would  seem  that  the  expedition  was  abandoned  on 
the  night  of  the  first,  in  consequence  of  the  desertion  of  the 
man  who  had  first  come  in.  At  this  time,  the  Pike  had  16  of 
her  guns  mounted ;  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  Com.  Yeo 
would  have  been  defeated,  had  he  persevered  in  his  origi- 
nal intention.  By  July  3d,  the  remainder  of  her  armament 
had  reached  the  Harbour. 

Soon  after,  Com.  Chauncey  felt  himself  strong  enough  to 
despatch  130  men,  with  the  necessary  officers,  to  the  upper 
lakes;  and  permission  was  given  to  Capt.  Perry  to  com- 
mence his  operations  against  the  enemy,  as  soon  as  that 
officer  should  deem  it  prudent.  Still  a  proportion  of  the 
men  present,  that  varied  from  a  tenth  to  a  fifth  of  their 
whole  numbers,  was  reported  on  the  sick  list;  among  whom 
were  Capt.  Sinclair,  of  the  Pike,'  all  the  lieutenants  of  that 
ship  but  one,  and  60  of  her  people. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 

On  the  21st  of  July,  the  Madison,  Capt.  Crane,  went  off 
Kingston,  communicating  with  the  commodore  by  signal, 
the  latter  remaining  at  anchor  in  the  Pike,  which  ship  was 
getting  ready  as  fast  as  possible.     The  same  evening  the 
latter  went  out,  accompanied  by  the  squadron,  running  over 
to  the  north  shore,  and  then  steered  to  the  westward.     The 
winds  were  light,  and  the  vessels  did  not  arrive  off  the 
mouth  of  the  Niagara,  until  the  27th.     Here  a  small  body 
of  troops  was  embarked  under  Col.  Scott,  and  the  squadron 
proceeded  to  the  head  of  the  lake,  with  a  view  to  make  a 
descent  at  Burlington  Bay.     After  landing  the  troops  and 
marines,  and  reconnoitring,  Col.  Scott  believed  the  enemy 
to  be  too  strong,  and  too  well  posted,  for  the  force  under  his 
command;  and  on  the  30th,  the  vessels  weighed  and  ran 
down  to  York.     Here  Col.  Scott  landed  without  opposition, 
and  got  possession  of  the  place.     A  considerable  quantity 
of  provisions,  particularly  flour,  was  seized,  five  pieces  of 
cannon  were  found,  some  shot  and  powder  were  brought 
off,  and  11  boats,  built  to  transport  troops,  were  destroyed. 
Some  barracks,  and  other  public  buildings,  were  burned. 
The  troops  re-embarked  on  the  1st  of  August,  and  on  the 
3d  they  were  disembarked  again,  in  the    Niagara.     The 
next  day,  Lieut.  Elliott,  with  Messrs.  Smith  and  Conklin, 
eight  midshipmen,  and  100  men,  were  landed  and  sent  up 
to  Lake  Erie,  to  report  themselves  to  Capt.  Perry.     This 
draft  greatly  deranged  the  crew  of  the  Pike,  her  men  re- 
quiring to  be  stationed  anew,  after  it  had  been  made. 

At  day-light,  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  while  at  anchor 
off  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara,  the  enemy's  squadron,  con- 
sisting of  two  ships,  two  brigs,  and  two  large  schooners, 
were  seen  to  the  north-west  and  to  windward,  distant  about 
six  miles.  The  American  vessels  immediately  weighed, 
and  endeavoured  to  obtain  the  weather  gage,  the  con- 
struction of  a  large  poriion  of  the  force  rendering  this 
advantage  important  in  a  general  action.  At  this  time, 


360  WAVAL  HISTORY. 

Com.  Chauncey  had  present,  the  Pike,  Madison,  Oneida, 
Hamilton,  Scourge,  Ontario,  Fair  American,  Governor 
Tompkins,  Conquest,  Julia,  Growler,  Asp,  and  Pert,  or 
thirteen  sail.  Of  this  force,  the  three  vessels  first  named, 
were  all  that  had  been  regularly  constructed  for  the  pur- 
poses of  war.  The  rest  had  no  quarters,  as  has  been  already 
mentioned,  mounting  one  or  two  guns  on  circles,  and,  in  a 
few  instances,  five  or  six  others  in  broadside.  The  schoon- 
ers could  scarcely  have  been  fought  with  prudence,  within 
reach  of  cannister,  as  the  men  were  exposed  from  their  feet 
upwards.  On  the  other  hand,  the  six  vessels  of  the  enemy 
had  all  been  constructed  for  war,  had  close  quarters,  and 
their  schooners  had  regular  sea  armaments.  This  differ- 
ence in  the  character  of  the  respective  forces,  rendered  it 
difficult  to  bring  on  an  action,  as  neither  party  would  be 
willing  to  engage  under  circumstances  that  were  disad- 
vantageous to  its  particular  species  of  armament.  The 
size  of  the  lake,  which  at  first  view  might  seem  to  render  it 
difficult  to  avoid  a  combat,  was  in  truth  in  favour  of  such  a 
design ;  the  distances  being  so  small,  that  the  retiring  party, 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  would  have  it  in  his  power 
to  gain  a  harbour,  before  its  enemy  could  close.  Both  com- 
manders, it  is  now  understood,  acted  under  very  rigid  in- 
structions, it  being  known  that  the  fortune  of  the  northern 
war,  in  a  great  measure,  depended  on  the  command  of  this 
lake,  and  neither  party  was  disposed  to  incur  any  undue 
risks  of  losing  the  chance  to  obtain  it. 

On  the  present  occasion,  however,  Com.  Chauncey  was 
anxious  to  bring  the  enemy  to  battle,  feeling  a  sufficient 
confidence  in  his  officers  and  men  to  believe  they  would 
render  his  mixed  and  greatly  divided  force  sufficiently 
available.  The  principal  advantage  of  the  enemy  was  in 
the  identity  of  character  that  belonged  to  his  squadron, 
which  enabled  him  to  keep  it  in  compact  order,  and  to 
give  it  concentrated  and  simultaneous  evolutions,  while  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  361 

movements  of  the  best  of  the  American  vessels,  were  ne- 
cessarily controlled  by  those  of  their  worst  In  short, 
the  manoeuvring  of  the  American  squadron,  throughout 
this  entire  summer,  furnishes  an  illustration  of  that  nau- 
tical principle  to  which  there  has  elsewhere  been  an  allu- 
sion, in  an  attempt  to  point  out  the  vast  importance  of 
preserving  an  equality  in  the  properties  of  ships.  Indeed 
the  Pike  and  Madison  alone  could  compete  with  vessels  of 
ordinary  qualities,  the  Oneida  proving  to  be  so  dull,  that 
the  flag  ship  was  frequently  compelled  to  take  her  in  tow.* 
At  9  A.  M.,  the  Pike,  having  got  abreast  of  the  Wolfe, 
the  leading  vessel  of  the  enemy,  hoisted  her  ensign,  and 
fired  a  few  guns  to  try  the  range  of  her  shot.  Finding 
that  the  latter  fell  short,  she  wore  and  hauled  to  the  wind 
on  the  other  tack,  the  st.ernmost  of  the  small  schooners  be- 
ing then  six  miles  distant.  The  enemy  wore  in  succession, 
also,  and  got  upon  the  same  tack  as  the  American  squad- 
ron, but  ascertaining  that  the  leading  vessels  of  the  latter 
would  weather  upon  him,  he  soon  tacked,  and  hauled  off  to 
the  northward.  As  soon  as  the  rear  of  the  American  line 
was  far  enough  ahead  to  fetch  his  wake,  signal  was  made  to 
the  squadron  to  tack  once  more,  and  to  crowd  sail  in  chase. 
The  wind  now  gradually  fell,  and  about  sunset  it  was  calm, 
the  schooners  using  their  sweeps  to  close.  As  night  ap- 

*  Although  this  brig  had  been  regularly  constructed  for  the  navy,  in 
the  year  1808,  and  her  dimensions  made  her  about  240  tons,  carpenter's 
measurement,  her  draught  of  water  was  not  greater  than  that  which  would 
properly  belong  to  a  sloop  of  80  tons.  This  was  owing  to  a  wish  to  ena- 
ble her  to  enter  the  rivers  of  the  south  shore,  nearly  all  of  which  have 
bars.  It  may  be  mentioned  here,  that  the  Oneida  was  salted.  Mr.  Wool- 
sey,  ascertaining  that  the  schooners  employed  in  the  salt-trade,  between 
Oswego  and  Niagara,  which  were  commonly  built  of  half-seasoned  timber, 
seldom  decayed  about  the  floors,  had  this  brig  filled  with  salt  from  her 
plank-sheer  down,  and  it  is  understood  that  she  was  sound  many  years 
afterwards.  The  timber  was  cut  in  the  forest,  moulded,  and  placed  in  the 
brig's  frame,  within  the  same  month. 


362  BTAVAL  HISTORY. 

preached,  the  signal  of  recall  was  made,  in  order  to  collect 
the  squadron,  there  being  an  apprehension  that  some  of  the 
small  vessels  might  be  cut  off. 

The  wind  came  from  the  westward,  in  the  night,  and  it 
blew  in  squalls.  All  the  vessels  were  at  quarters,  carry- 
ing sail  to  gain  the  wind  of  the  enemy,  with  a  view  to 
engage  him  in  the  morning.  Not  long  after  midnight,  a 
rushing  sound  was  heard ;  and  several  of  the  vessels  felt  more 
or  less  of  a  squall;  but  the  strength  of  the  gust  passed  astern. 
Soon  after,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  Hamilton,  Lieut. 
Winter,  and  Scourge,  Mr.  Osgood,  had  disappeared.  The 
Pike  now  spoke  the  Governor  Tompkins,  which  informed  the 
commodore  that  the  missing  schooners  had  capsized  in  the 
squall,  and  that  the  whole  of  their  officers  and  men,  with 
the  exception  of  sixteen  of  the  latter,  had  been  drowned.  It 
is  supposed,  as  all  the  vessels  were  at  quarters,  and  the 
guns  were  loose,  that  when  the  gust  struck  the  vessels,  their 
heavy  guns,  which  worked  on  slides,  with  the  shot  on  deck, 
went  to  leeward,  and  helped  to  carry  these  two  schooners 
over.  This  accident  showed  how  unsuited  these  vessels 
were  to  the  service  on  which  they  were  employed,  those 
lost  having  been  two  of  the  very  best  in  the  squadron, 
mounting  between  them  19  guns. 

The  American  squadron  now  hove-to,  and  soon  after 
day-light  the  enemy  set  studding-sails  and  stood  down  upon 
it,  apparently  with  an  intention  to  engage.  When  a  little 
more  than  a  league  distant,  however,  he  brought  by  the 
Wind,  and  the  signal  was  made  from  the  Pike  to  ware,  and 
to  bring-to  on  the  same  tack.  After  waiting  some  time 
for  the  English  ships  to  come  down,  Com.  Chauncey  edged 
away  for  the  land,  hoping,  by  getting  the  breeze  which,  at 
that  season,  usually  came  off  the  southern  shore,  in  the 
afternoon,  to  obtain  the  weather-gage.  It  fell  calm,  how- 
ever, and  the  schooners  were  ordered  to  sweep  up  towards 
the  enemy,  and  to  bring  him  to  action.  While  the  latter 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  363 

were  attempting  to  execute  this  order,  the  wind  came  out 
light  at  the  eastward,  when  the  Pike  took  the  Oneida  in 
tow,  and  stood  down  towards  the  enemy.  The  vdn  of  the 
schooners  had  got  within  two  miles  of  the  English  squadron, 
when  the  breeze  suddenly  shifted  to  the  westward,  giving 
the  latter  the  advantage  of  the  wind.  Sir  James  Yeo  now 
bore  up,  in  the  expe'ctation  of  cutting  off  the  American 
small  vessels,  before  the  ships  could  cover  them ;  but  the 
former,  by  freely  using  their  sweeps,  soon  got  into  their 
stations  again,  when  the  enemy  hauled  by  the  wind  and 
hove-to. 

It  now  became  squally,  and  the  people  having  been  at 
quarters  nearly  two  days  and  nights,  and  the  enemy,  who 
was  evidently  indisposed  to  engage,  unless  on  his  own 
terms,  possessing  a  great  advantage  in  such  weather,  as 
the  late  accident  sufficiently  proved,  Com.  Chauncey  ran 
in,  and  anchored  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara.  It  blew 
heavy  in  squalls  throughout  the  night,  but  the  enemy 
being  in  sight  to  the  northward,  at  day-light,  the  squadron 
weighed  and  stood  out  after  him.  Throughout  the  whole 
of  this  day,  and  of  the  succeeding  night,  under  a  succession 
of  squalls,  light  airs  and  calms,  and  constant  changes  in  the 
direction  of  the  winds,  the  American  vessels  were  endea- 
vouring to  close  with  the  enemy,  without  success.  At  day- 
light, however,  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  Com.  Chauncey, 
having  taken  the  precaution  to  get  under  the  north  shore, 
found  himself  to  windward,  with  the  enemy  bearing  S.  W. 
The  Pike  now  , took  the  Asp,  and  the  Madison  the  Fair 
American,  in  tow,  and  the  whole  squadron  kept  away,  with 
every  prospect  of  forcing  the  English  to  engage.  About 
noon,  and  before  the  squadrons  were  within  gun-shot  of 
each  other,  the  wind  shifted  to  W.  S.  W.,  giving  the  enemy 
the  weather-gage.  Throughout  the  day,  there  was  a  series 
of  unsuccessful  manoeuvres  to  close  and  to  gain  the  wind, 
but,  about  5  P.  M.,  the  enemy  was  becalmed  under  the 


364  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

south  shore,  and  the  American  squadron  got  a  breeze  fro 
N.  N.  W.,  nearing  him  fast.  At  6,  being  then  distant  abo 
four  miles,  the  line  of  battle  was  formed,  though  the  wind 
had  become  very  light.  The  vessels  continued  to  close 
until  7,  when  a  fresh  breeze  came  out  at  S.  W.,  placing  th 
enemy  once  more  to  windward.  After  some  mano3uvrin 
the  two  squadrons  were  standing  to  the  northward,  with 
their  larboard  tacks  aboard,  under  easy  canvass,  the  enemy 
astern  and  to  windward.  It  being  now  pretty  certain,  that 
with  vessels  of  qualities  so  unequal,  he  could  riot  get  the 
wind  of  the  English,  while  the  latter  were  disposed  to  avoid 
it,  Com.  Chauncey  adopted  an  order  of  battle  that  was  singu- 
larly well  adapted  to  draw  them  down,  and  which  was  ad- 
mirable for  its  advantages  and  ingenuity.  The  American 
squadron  formed  in  two  lines,  one  to  windward  of  the  other. 
The  weather  line  consisted  altogether  of  the  smallest  of  the 
schooners,  having  in  it,  in  the  order  in  which  they  are 
named  from  the  van  to  the  rear,  the  Julia,  Growler,  Pert, 
Asp,  Ontario,  and  Fair  American.  The  line  to  leeward 
contained,  in  the  same  order,  the  Pike,  Oneida,  Madison, 
Governor  Tompkins,  and  Conquest.  It  was  hoped  that  Sir 
James  Yeo  would  close  with  the  weather  line,  in  the  course 
of  the  night,  and,  with  a  view  to  bring  him  down,  the  Julia, 
Growler,  Pert  and  Asp  were  directed,  after  engaging  as 
long  as  was  prudent,  to  edge  away,  and  to  pass  through  the 
intervals  left  between  the  leading  vessels  of  the  line  to  lee- 
ward, forming  again  under  their  protection,  while  the  Ontario 
and  Fair  American  were  directed  to  run  into  the  leeward 
line,  and  form  astern  of  the  Conquest.  Nothing  could  have 
been  simpler,  or  better  devised,  than  this  order  of  battle ;  nor 
is  it  possible  to  say  what  might  have  been  the  consequences 
had  circumstances  allowed  the  plan  to  be  rigidly  observed. 
At  half  past  10  P.  M.,  the  enemy  tacked  and  stood  after 
the  American  squadron,  keeping  to  windward  of  the  wea- 
ther line.  At  11,  the  Fair  American,  the  sternmost  of  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  365 

schooners  in  this  line,  began  to  fire;  and  the  enemy  conti- 
nuing to  draw  ahead,  in  about  fifteen  minutes  the  action 
became  general  between  him  and  the  weather  line.  At 
half  past  11,  all  the  schooners  engaged  bore  up,  accord- 
ing to  orders,  with  the  exception  of  the  two  most  ahead, 
•which  tacked  in  the  hope  of  gaining  the  wind  of  the  Eng- 
glish  ships,  instead  of  waring,  or  bearing  up.  This  unfortu- 
nate departure  from  the  order  of  battle,  entirely  changed 
the  state  of  things;  Sir  James  Yeo,  instead  of  following  the 
schooners  down,  as  had  been  expected,  keeping  his  wind 
with  a  view  to  cut  off  the  two  that  had  separated.  Com. 
Chauncey  now  filled,  and  kept  away  two  points,  in  the  hope 
of  drawing  the  enemy  off  from  the, vessels  to  windward, 
but  the  English  exchanged  a  few  shot  with  the  Pike  in 
passing,  and  continued  in  pursuit  of  the  two  schooners. 
The  American  squadron  immediately  tacked,  and  endea- 
voured to  close,  with  the  double  view  of  covering  their 
consorts,  and  of  engaging.  As  the  chase  was  to  windward, 
it  was  impossible  to  protect  the  vessels  that  had  separated, 
the  English  ships  easily  getting  them  under  their  guns,  and 
the  former  struck,  of  course* 

The  vessels  captured  were  the  Growler,  Lieut.  Deacon ; 
and  the  Julia,  Mr.  Trant.*     They  sustained  a  small  loss 

*  James  Trant  was  a  sailing-master  in  the  navy,  from  the  time  of  its  for- 
mation, until  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  an  Irishman  by  birth, 
and  is  believed  to  have  come  to  this  country  in  1781,  with  Capt.  Barry,  in. 
the  Alliance  32,  or  in  the  passage  in  which  that  ship  captured  the  Tre- 
passey  and  Atalanta,  At  any  rate,  the  journals  of  the  day  mention  that  a 
Mr.  Trent,  (the  manner  in  which  the  name  is  pronounced,)  an  Irish  naval 
volunteer,  had  accompanied  Capt.  Barry  on  that  occasion.  Few  persons 
have  given  rise  to  more  traditions  in  the  service,  than  Mr.  Trant.  His 
eccentricities  were  as  conspicuous  as  his  nautical  peculiarities  and  his 
gallantry.  His  whole  life  was  passed  in,  or  about  ships,  and  his  preju- 
dices and  habits  were  as  thoroughly  naval  as  those  of  Pipes  himself.  For 
England,  and  Englishmen,  he  entertained,  to  the  last,  the  most  unyielding 
hatred,  which  appeared  to  be  associated,  in  his  mind,  with  wrongs  done 
VOL.  II.— 31 


366  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

before  they  surrendered,  having,  in  some  measure,  repaired 
the  fault  they  had  committed,  by  the  handsome  manner  in" 
which  they  held  on  to  the  last.  It  was  the  opinion  of  Com. 
Chauncey,  that  these  schooners  were  lost  through  excess  of 
zeal  in  their  commanders,  who  thought  that  a  general  ac- 
tion was  about  to  take  place,  and  that  by  gaining  the  wind, 
they  might  be  of  more  service,  than  if  stationed  to  leeward. 
The  result  showed  the  necessity  of  complete  concert  in  na- 
val evolutions,  and  the  virtue  of  implicit  obedience.  Each 
of  the  vessels  taken  by  the  enemy,  carried  two  guns,  and 
had  a  crew  of  about  40  souls.  Some  damage  was  done  to 
the  sails  and  rigging  of  the  enemy,  by  the  fire  of  the 
schooners,  but  the  American  squadron,  the  Julia  and  Grow- 
ler excepted,  received  no  injury  worth  mentioning.  The 
Growler  had  a  man  killed,  .lost  her  bowsprit,  and  was  a 
good  deal  damaged  before  she  struck. 

The  Pike,  after  carrying  sail  hard  for  some  time,  finding 
that  she  was  separating  from  the  rest  of  the  squadron,  and 
that  there  was  no  hope  of  saving  the  two  schooners,  re- 
joined the  other  vessels,  and  formed  the  line  again.  At 
day-light,  the  enemy  was  seen  a  long  way  to  windward,  it 
blowing  fresh.  The  small  vessels  beginning  to  labour  ex- 
cessively, it  became  necessary  to  send  two  of  the  dullest  of 
them  into  the  Niagara  for  security. 

to  Ireland.     He  was  usually  supposed  to  be  a  man  of  obdurate  feelings, 
and  of  a  cruel  disposition,  but  he  was  not  without  some  of  the  finest 
traits  of  human  nature.     A  volume  might  be  written  of  his  eccentricities 
and  opinions.     He  had  been  in  many  actions,  and  was  always  remarkable 
for  decision  and  intrepidity.    His  capture  was  owing-  to  the  latter  quality. 
Towards  the  close  of  a  life  that  extended  to  seventy  years,  he  received   ; 
the  commission  of  a  lieutenant,  an  honour  that  appeared  to  console  him 
for  all  his  hardships  and  dangers.     He  died  at  Philadelphia,  a  few  years   i 
after  the  war,  and  is  said  to  have  been  found  with  pistols  under  his  pillow   ; 
to  keep  off  the  doctors.    It  is  also  said,  we  know  not  with  what  truth, 
that  he  ordered  his  body  to  be  carried  into  blue  water,  and  to  be  buried 
in  the  ocean. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  367 

The  gale  increasing,  the  commodore  now  determined  to 
run  for  the  Genesee,  with  the  rest  of  the  vessels,  but  the 
wind  continuing,  and  the  Madison  and  Oneida  not  having  a 
day's  provisions  on  board,  he  stood  for  the  Harbour,  where 
he  did  not  arrive  until  the  13th,  the  wind  failing  before  he 
got  in. 

.  It  was  very  evident  from  the  operations,  of  this  arduous 
week,  that  the  enemy  intended  to  avoid  an  action,  unless  it 
could  be  brought  on  under  circumstances  altogether  fa- 
vourable to  himself.  Although  the  Pike  most  probably  out- 
sailed any  thing  on  the  lake,  and  the  Madison  was  nearly, 
if  not  quite  on  an  equality  with  the  enemy's  best  vessels, 
yet  these  two  ships  were  quite  unequal  to  engaging  the 
British  squadron  alone,  and  the  remainder  of  the  Ameri- 
can vessels  did  not  deserve  to  be  included  in  the  class  of 
cruisers  at  all.  As  a  squadron,  the  English  force  was  much 
faster  than  the  American  force,  furnishing  a  complete  ex- 
ample of  the  manner  in  which  the  best  ships  of  a  fleet  are 
necessarily  reduced,  in  this  respect,  to  the  level  of  the 
worst.  The  English  were  so  much  aware  of  the  truth  of 
this  principle,  that  they  declined  putting  the  prizes  into 
their  squadron,  but  after  being  disarmed,  they  were  con- 
verted into  transports. 

It  is  now  understood  that  the  species  of  warfare  that  Sir 
James  Yeo  adopted,  was  cautiously  enjoined  by  his  instruc- 
tions, it  being  very  evident  that  even  a  protracted  struggle 
was  better  than  positive  defeat,  in  the  peculiar  situation  of 
the  Cariadas. 


3t>8  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


THE,  enemy  was  also  understood  to  be  still  building, 
though  his  extreme  vigilance,  and  a  practice  of  changing 
the  names  of  his  vessels,  rendered  it  exceedingly  difficult  to 
obtain  accurate  information  of  the  slate  of  his  fleet.  A  fine 
large  schooner,  superior  in  size  and  model  to  the  Oneida, 
had  been  laid  down  at  the  Harbour,  some  time  previously, 
and  was  now  nearly  ready  for  launching. 

The  sickness  among  the  people  of  the  American  squad- 
ron continued;  the  Madison,  in  particular,  having  more 
than  a  third  of  her  crew  on  the  doctor's  list,  when  she 
sailed  on  her  next  cruise.  As  more  than  150  men  had  been 
taken  from  the  squadron,  by  the  loss  of  the  four  schooners, 
and  so  many  were  unable  to  do  duty,  Com.  Chauncey,  orc- 
his late  return  to  the  Harbour,  falling  in  with  the  Lady 
of  the  Lake,  carrying  a  party  of  50  marines  up  to  Niagara, 
who  were  to  join  Capt.  Perry  on  the  upper  lakes,  had  taken 
them  out  for  his  own  vessels,  a  measure  that  compelled  the 
latter  officer  to  obtain  volunteers  from  the  army,  to  supply 
their  places. 

Without  waiting  for  the  new  vessel,  however,  Com. 
Chauncey  took  in  provisions  for  five  weeks,  and  sailed  on 
another  cruise  the  very  day  of  his  arrival.  On  the  16th, 
the  squadron  was  off  the  INiagara,  and  the  same  day  the 
enemy  was  made,  being  eight  sail  in  all.  Some  manoeu- 
vring to  obtain  the  wind  followed,  but  it  coming  on  to  blow, 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  369 

the  vessels  ran  into  the  mouth  of  the  Genesee,  and  anchor- 
ed.    This  was  another  of  the  evil  consequences  of  having 
vessels  like  the  small  schooners  in  the  squadron,  a  sea  little 
heavier  than  common  causing  them,  with  the  heavy  guns 
they  carried,  to  labour  to  a  degree  that  rendered  it  unsafe 
for  them  to  keep  the  lake.     The  wind,  however,  freshened 
so  much  as  to  compel  the  whole  squadron  to  weigh  and 
bear  up,  forcing  them  down  the  lake  under  easy  canvass. 
The  enemy,  it  would  seem,  was  also  driven  to  leeward,  for 
he  was  made  out  at  anchor  under  the  False  Ducks,  as  those 
islands  came  in  sight.    The  Fair  American  and  Asp  having 
been  sent  into  , the  Niagara  on  duty,  the  vessels  present  in 
the  American  squadron,  on  this  occasion,  were  the  Pike, 
Madison,  Oneida,  Tompkins,  Conquest,  Ontario,  Pert,  and 
Lady  of  the  Lake ;  the  latter  having  no  armament  fit  for 
a  general  engagement.      It  was  now   expected  that  the 
enemy  would  be  willing  to  engage,  and  the  vessels  were 
cleared   for   action. ,    The  wind  shifted   again,   however, 
bringing  the  English  squadron  to  windward,  but  by  carry- 
ing sail  hard,  the  American  vessels  were  weathering  on  it, 
when  the  enemy  ran  behind  the  islands,  and  was  believed 
to  have  stood  into  Kingston.     The  gale  increasing,  and  the 
schooners  being  actually  in  danger  of  foundering,  Com. 
Chauncey  bore  up  for  the  Harbour,  where  he  arrived  on 
the  19th  of  the  month. 

The  new  vessel  had  been  launched  the  day  before,  and 
she  was  rigged  into  a  schooner,  and  named  the  Sylph.  Her 
armament  was  peculiar,  for,  in  that  comparative  wilder- 
ness, the  materials  that  could  be  had  were  frequently  taken, 
in  the  place  of  those  that  were  desired.  Four  long  thirty- 
twos  were  mounted  on  circles  between  her  masts,  and  six 
sixes  were  placed  in  broadside.  As  this  vessel  was  expect- 
ed to  be  weatherly,  it  was  hoped  these  heavy  guns  might 
cut  away  some  of  the  enemy's  spars,  and  bring  on  a  gene- 
ral action.  It  is  due  to  the  extraordinary  capacity  of  the 

31* 


370  IfAVAL  HISTORY. 

builder,  to  say  that  this  schooner  was  put  into  the  water  in 
twenty-one  working  days  after  her  keel  had  been  laid. 

The  commissions  of  the  officers  promoted  a  short  time 
previously,  were  now  found  at  the  Harbour,  and  Lieut. 
Com.  Woolsey  was  transferred  to  the  Sylph,  with  his  new 
rank ;  Lieut.  Thomas  Brown,  the  officer  who  had  so  much 
distinguished  himself  at  the  landing  before  Fort  George, 
succeeding  him  in  the  Oneida.  The  commission  of  master 
and  commander  was  also  sent  after  Mr.  Elliott,  to  Lake 
Erie,  that  gentleman  having  been  promoted  over  many 
other  lieutenants,  as  a  reward  for  the  capture  of  the  two 
brigs,  the  previous  autumn.  Capt.  Trenchard  left  the  sta-  - 
tion,  on  account  of  ill  health.  About  this  time,  too,  Capt. 

.    V 

Perry  made  an  application  to  be  relieved  from  his  com-  I 
mand  on  the  upper  lakes,  complaining  of  the  quality  of  the 
crews  of  the  vessels  he  commanded.  It  ought,  indeed,  to 
be  mentioned  that  there  was  a  general  want  of  men  on  all 
the  lakes,  on  account  of  the  dislike  of  the  Atlantic  sailors  to 
the  service,  and  the  fact  that  nearly  all  who  came  upon  those 
waters  from  the  sea-board,  had  to  undergo  a  seasoning 
through  disease.  It  appears  by  the  official  reports  made 
about  this  time,  that  nearly  one  man  in  six,  and  even  a 
larger  proportion  in  some  of  the  vessels,  were  left  on 
shore,  in  consequence  of  illness.  At  one  time,  this  season, 
the  Madison  had  80  men,  in  a  complement  of  about  200,  on 
the  sick  list,  or  nearly  half  her  people. 

On  the  28th  of  August,  Com.  Chauncey  sailed  again,  with 
the  Pike,  Madison,  Sylph,  Oneida,  Tompkins,  Conquest, 
Ontario,  Pert,  and  Lady  of  the  Lake;  nine  sail  in  all,  of 
which  four  had  been  built  for  cruisers,  though  the  Sylph  was 
unsuited  to  close  action ;  four  were  the  merchant  schoon- 
ers so  often  mentioned,  and  the  last  a  look-out  vessel. 

The  enemy  was  not  seen  until  the  7th  of  September, 
when,  the  squadron  lying  at  anchor  in,  and  off,  the  Niagara, 
his  ships  were  made  out  at  day-light,  close  in  and  to  lee- 


, 
IT  AVAL  HISTORY.  371 

ward.  The  signal  to  weigh  was  instantly  shown,  and  the 
Pike,  Madison,  and  Sylph,  each  taking  a  schooner  in  tow, 
sail  was  made  in  chase.  The  enemy  bore  up  to  the  north- 
ward, and  for  six  days  the  American  squadron  followed  the 
English,  endeavouring  to  bring  it  to  action,  without  success. 
On  the  llth  of  September,  the  enemy  was  becalmed  off 
the  Genesee,  when  the  American  vessels  got  a  breeze  and 
ran  within  gun-shot,  before  the  English  squadron  took  the 
wind.  A  running  fight,  that  lasted  more  than  three  hours, 
was  the  result ;  but  the  enemy  escaped  in  consequence 
of  his  better  sailing,  it  being  out  of  the  power  of  the  Ameri- 
can commander  to  close  with  more  than  two  of  his  vessels, 
on  account  of  the  peculiar  armament  of  the  Sylph.  As  the 
Pike  succeeded  in  getting  several  broadsides  at  the  enemy, 
he  did  not  escape  without  being  a  good  deal  cut  up,  hav- 
ing, according  to  his  own  report,  an  officer  and  ten  men 
killed  and  wounded.  The  Pike  was  hulled  a  few  times, 
and  other  trifling  injuries  were  received,  though  no  person 
was  hurt.  Previously  to  this  affair,  Com.  Chauncey  had 
been  joined  by  the  Fair  American  and  Asp.  On  the  12th, 
Sir  James  Yeo  ran  into  Amherst  Bay,  where  the  Americans 
were  unable  to  follow  him,  on  account  of  their  ignorance 
of  the  shoals.  It  was  supposed  that  (he  English  commo- 
dore declined  engaging  on  this  occasion,  in  consequence  of 
the  smoothness  of  the  water,  it  being  his  policy  to  bring  his 
enemy  to  action  in  blowing  weather,  when  the  American 
schooners  would  be  virtually  useless. 

Com.  Chauncey  remained  off  the  Ducks  until  the  17th, 
when  the  English  squadron  succeeded  in  getting  into  Kings- 
ton, after  which  he  went  into  port  for  despatches  and  sup- 
plies. The  next  day,  however,  he  came  out  again,  and  on 
the  19th,  the  enemy  was  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ducks. 
No  notice  was  now  taken  of  him,  but  the  squadron  stood 
up  the  lake,  in  the  hope  that  the  English  would  follow, 
and  with  a  view  to  bring  down  a  brigade  of  troops,  a 


372  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

division  of  the  army  being  about  to  concentrate  at  Sackett's 
Harbour,  preparatory  to  descending  the  St.  Lawrence  with 
a  view  to  attack  Montreal. 

In  a  day  or  two,  the  squadron  got  off  the  Niagara,  and 
anchored.  Here  a  rumour  reached  it,  that  there  had  been 
a  general  and  decisive  action,  between  the  English  and 
American  forces,  on  the  upper. lakes.  On  the  26th  of  Sep- 
tember, information  was  received  that  Sir  James  Yeo 
was  at  York,  with  all  his  squadron.  The  Lady  of  the  Lake 
was  sent  across  to  ascertain  the  fact,  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th,  and  returning  the  same  evening  with  a  confirmation 
of  the  report,  the  squadron  instantly  got  under  way.  Owing 
to  the  wind,  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  bad  sailing  . 
of  so  many  of  the  vessels,  the  squadron  was  not  got  into  line, 
until  8  A.  M.,  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  when  the  Pike, 
Madison,  and  Sylph,  each  took  a  schooner  in -tow,  as  usual, 
and  sail  was  made  for  the  north  shore. 

The  English  squadron  was  soon  discovered  under  can- 
vass, in  York  Bay,  and  the  American  vessels  immediately 
edged  away  for  it.     Fortunately,  the  Americans  had  the 
weather-gage,  the  wind  being  at  the  eastward,  blowing  a 
good  breeze.     As  soon  as  the  enemy  perceived  the  Ameri- 
can ships  approaching,  he  tacked  and  stretched  out  into  the 
lake,  in  order  to  get  room  to  manoeuvre ;  Com.  Chauncey  ' 
forming  his  line,  and  steering  directly  for  his  centre.   When 
the  American  squadron  was  about  a  league  distant,  the 
English  ships  made  all  sail,  on  a  wind,  to  the  southward. 
The  former  now  wore  in  succession,  to  get  on  the  same 
tack  with  the  enemy ;  and  as  soon  as  this  was  effected,  it 
began  to  edge  away,  again,  in  order  to  close. 

.The  enemy  now  had  no  alternative  between  putting  up 
his  helm,  and  running  off  before  the  wind,  thus  satisfactorily 
demonstrating  which  party  sought,  and  which  avoided  a 
general  action,  or  in  allowing  the  Americans  to  commence 
the  engagement.  Notwithstanding  the  wariness  with  which 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  373 

Sir  James  Yeo  had  hitherto  manoeuvred  to  prevent  a  decisive 
combat,  he  had  always  maintained  the  pretension  of  seeking 
a  conflict,  probably  with  a  view  to  encourage  the  colonies, 
and  a  retreat,  at  this  moment,  would  have  been  too  une- 
quivocally a  flight  to  admit  of  palliation.  The  American 
squadron  was  a  good  deal  extended,  in  consequence  of  the 
great  difference  in  the  sailing  of  its  vessels,  the  Pike  being 
considerably  ahead  of  most  of  her  consorts.  As  the  signal 
\vas  flying  for  close  action,  the  Governor  Tompkins  had 
passed  several  of  the  larger  vessels,  and  was  next  astern  of 
the  commodore,  while  the  Madison,  which  had  one  of  the 
heaviest  of  the  schooners  in,  tow,  was  prevented  from  get- 
ting as  near  as  was  desirable.  The  Oneida,  too,  now  show- 
ed her  worst  qualities,  no  exertions  of  her  gallant  comman- 
der, Lieut.  Com.  Brown,  being  able  to  urge  her  ahead,  as 
fast  as  was  necessary."  In  this  state  of  things,  Sir  James 
Yeo,  perceiving  that  his  two  sternmost  vessels  were  in  dan- 
ger, and  that  there  was  some  little  chance  of  cutting  ofFthe 
rear  of  the  American  line,  which  was  a  good  deal  extended, 
he  determined  to  tack,  and  to  hazard  an  engagement. 

At  10  minutes  past  meridian,  accordingly,  the  English 
ships  began  to  tack  in  succession,  while  the  Pike  made  a 
yaw  to  leeward,  edging  away  rapidly,  to  get  nearer  to  the 
enemy's  centre.  As  soon  as  the  two  or  three  leading  Ves- 
sels of  the  enemy,  among  which  were  the  Wolfe  and 
Royal  George,  got  round,  they  opened  on  the  Pike,  which 
ship  received  their  fire  for  several  minutes  without  returning 
it.  When  near  enough,  she  opened  in  her  turn.  The  Pike, 
on  this  occasion,  was  not  only  beautifully  handled,  but  her 
fire  was  probably  as  severe  as  ever  came  out  of  the  broad- 
side of  a  ship  of  her  force.  For  twenty  minutes  she  lay 
opposed  to  all  the  heaviest  vessels  of  the  enemy,  receiving 
little  or  no  support  from  any  of  her  own  squadron,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Asp,  the  schooner  she  had  in  tow,  and 
the  Governor  Tompkins.  The  latter  vessel,  commanded  for 


374  NAVAL  HiSTonr. 

the  occasion  by  Lieut.  W.  C.  B.  Finch,*  of  the  Madison, 
was  handled  with  a  gallantry  that  reflected  high  credit  on 
that  young;  officer,  steadily  keeping  the  station  into  which 
she  had  been  so  spiritedly  carried,  and  maintaining  a  warm 
fire  until  crippled  by  the  enemy,  and  unavoidably  left 
astern.  When  the  smoke  blew  away,  during  a  pause  in 
this  sharp  combat,  it  was  found  that  the  Wolfe  had  lost  her 
main  and  mizzen  top-masts  and  her  main-yard,  besides  re- 
ceiving other  injuries.  Cut  up  so  seriously,  she  put  away 
dead  before  the  wind,  crowding  all  the  canvass  she  could 
carry  on  her  forward  spars.  At  this  moment,  the  Royal 
George  luffed  up  in  noble  style,  across  her  stern,  to  co- 
ver the  English  commodore,  who  ran  off  to  leeward,  pass- 
ing through  his  own  line^  in  order  to  effect  his  retreat. 
There  is  no  question  that  this  timely  and  judicious  move- 
ment of  Sir  James  Yeo  saved  his  squadron,  for  had  he  re- 
mained/ long  enough  to  permit  the  Madison  and  Oneida  to 
use  their  carronades,  his  whole  force  would  have  been  sa- 
crificed. 

The  enemy  bore  up  a  few  minutes  before  1  P.  M.,  and 
the  Pike  immediately  made  a  signal  for  a  general  chase. 
As  the  enemy  went  off  to  leeward,  the  Royal  George  kept 
yawing  athwart  the  English  commodore's  stern,  and  deliv- 
ering her  broadsides  in  a  manner  to  extort  exclamations  of 
delight  from  the  American  fleet.  She  was  commanded 
by  Capt.  Mulcaster,  an  officer  who  won  the  perfect  esteem 
of  his  enemies,  by  his  gallantry  and  good  conduct  on  this 
occasion. 

When  the  English  squadron  bore  up,  the  American  ves- 
sels followed,  maintaining  a  heavy  fire  with  as  many  of  their 
circle  and  chase  guns  as  could  reach  the  enemy.  It  was 
now  found  that  the  armament  of  the  Sylph  was  not  suited 
to  service,  the  guns  between  her  masts  being  so  crowded 

*  Now  Capt.  W.  C.  Bolton. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  375 

as  not  to  allow  of  their  being  used  with  freedom,  or  ra- 
pidity, more  especially  when  in  chase.  This  circumstance, 
notwithstanding  her  size  and  sailing,  rendered  her  scarcely 
of  more  use  than  one  of  the  smaller  schooners. 

After  pursuing  the  enemy  about  two  hours,  during  which 
time  the  squadron  had  run  nearly  up  to  the  head  of  the 
lake,  where  the  former  had  a  port  at  Burlington  Bay,  and 
finding  that  the  English  ships  outsailed  most  of  his  vessels, 
Com.  Chauncey  made  the  signal  to  haul  off,  with  a  view  to 
stand  in  for  the  Niagara.  As  the  enemy  was  effectually 
beaten,  and  there  is  scarcely  a  doubt,  would  have  been  de- 
stroyed, had  he  been  pressed,  this  order  has  been  much 
criticised,  as  uncalled  for,  and  unfortunate.  The  motives 
which  influenced  the  American  commander,  however,  were 
marked  by  that  discretion  and  thoughtfulness,  which  are 
among  the  highest  attributes  of  an  officer,  and  which  dis- 
tinguished his  whole  career,  while  intrusted  with  the  ar- 
duous and  responsible  service  over  which  he  presided  during 
the  war.  The  wind  was  increasing;,  and  it  shortly  after 
came  on  to  blow  an  easterly  gale,  and  an  action,  under 
such  circumstances,  would  probably  have  caused  both 
squadrons  to  have  been  thrown  ashore,  there  being  nothing 
but  a  roadstead,  under  Burlington  heights,  which  the  wind 
that  then  blew  swept. 

As  the  enemy  was  known  to  have  a  considerable  land 
force  at  this  point,  all  who  were  driven  ashore,  would  ne- 
cessarily have  fallen  into  his  hands;  and  had  he  succeeded 
in  getting  off  one  or  two  of  the  smaller  vessels,  he  would 
effectually  have  obtained  the  command  of  the  lake.  By 
going  in  to  the  Niagara,  on  the  other  hand,  the  American 
squadron  was  in  a  position  to  intercept  the  retreat  of  the 
enemy,  who  was  in  a  cul  de  sac,  and  after  waiting  for  more 
moderate  weather,  he  might  be  attacked  even  at  anchor, 
should  it  be  deemed  expedient,  under  much  more  favoura- 
ble circumstances.  In  addition  to  these,  reasons,  which 


376  1CAVAL  HISTORY. 

were  weighty,  and  worthy  of  a  commander  of  reflection  and 
judgment,  the  Pike  had  received  a  shot  or  two  beneath  her 
water  line,  which  required  her  pumps  to  be  kept  going,  a 
toil  that,  united  to  the  labour  of  an  action,  would  have 
finally  exhausted  the  strength  of  the  ship's  company.  The 
enemy  had  batteries  to  command  the  anchorage,  too,  and 
no  doubt  he  would  have  established  more,  had  the  Ameri- 
cans come  in. 

The  gale  continued  until  the  evening  of  the  31st,  the; 
wind  standing  to  the  eastward  even  several  days  longer. 
During  this  time,  Com.  Chauncey  communicated  with  the 
commanding  general  at  Niagara,  who  deemed  it  more  im- 
portant that  he  should  watch  Sir  James  Yeo,  than  that  he 
should  accompany  the  transports  down  the  lake.  As  this 
opinion  coincided  with  that  of  the  commanding  naval  offi- 
cer himself,  the  troops  were  embarked  and  sent  off  as  fast 
as  the  transports  could  be  got  ready,  while  the  squadron 
held  itself  in  reserve,  to  intercept  the  enemy,  as  soon  as  he 
should  attempt  to  come  to  the  westward. 

In  the  action  of  the  28th  of  September,  the  Pike  suffered 
a  good  deal,  both  in  her  hull  and  aloft,  bearing  the  weight 
of  the  enemy's  fire,  for  most  of  the  time.  Her  main-top- 
gallant mast  was  shot  away  early  in  the  engagement,  and 
her  bowsprit,  fore-mast,  and  main-mast  were  all  wounded. 
Her  rigging  and  sails  were  much  cut  up,  and  she  had  been 
repeatedly  hulled ;  two  or  three  limes  below  the  water  line, 
as  already  stated.  Five  of  her  men,  only,  were  killed  and 
wounded  by  shot  While  bearing  up  in  chase,  however,  the 
starboard  bow  gun  bursted,  by  which  accident  twenty-two 
men  were  either  slain,  or  seriously  injured.  The  top-gallant 
forecastle  was  torn  up  by  this  explosion,  rendering  its  circle 
gun  useless  during  the  remainder  of  the  day.  Four  of  the 
other  guns  also  cracked  in  the  muzzles,  producing  great  dis- 
trust about  using  them.  The  Madison  received  some  slight 
injuries,  and  the  Oneida  had  her  main-top-mast  badly 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  377 

wounded.  But  no  person  was  hurt  in  either  of  these  ves- 
sels. The  Governor  Tompkins  lost  her  foremast.  On  the 
part  of  the  enemy,  the  Wolfe  and  Royal  George  suffered 
most;  and  it  is  believed  that  the  former  vessel  sustained 
a  heavy  loss  in  men.  It  is  also  understood,  that  one,  if  not 
two,  of  the  enemy's  smallest  vessels  struck,  but  the  Pike 
declining  to  take  possession,  in  the  eagerness  to  close  with 
the  Wolfe,  they  eventually  escaped. 

On  the  2d,  the  wind  coming  round  light  to  the  west- 
ward, and  the  last  transport  having  been  sent  down  the 
lake  with  troops,  the  squadron  weighed,  and  stretched 
out  to  look  for  the  enemy.  At  10,  A.  M.,  he  was  seen 
standing  down,  under  studding  sails.  The  instant  the 
American  vessels  were  made,  however,  the  enemy  came  by 
the  wind  and  carried  sail,  to  keep  off.  During  the  remain- 
der of  this  day,  the  English  ships  gained  on  the  American, 
and  at  day  light  on  the  3d,  they  were  seen  at  anchor,  close 
in  under  an  island  between  Twelve  and  Twenty  Mile 
Creeks.  It  blew  in  gusts,  and  quite  heavily,  throughout 
the  day,  both  squadrons  turning  to  windward,  the  enemy 
being  nearly  up  with  the  head  of  the  lake  at  sunset.  The 
night  proved  dark  and  squally,  with  a  good  deal  of  rain, 
and  every  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
getting  past,  as  he  was  now  caught,  as  it  might  be,  in  a  net. 

The  next  morning  the  weather  was  thick,  and  nothing 
could  be  seen  of  the  English  squadron.  It  falling  calm  at 
noon,  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  was  ordered  to  sweep  up 
towards  the  head  of  the  lake,  to  ascertain  the  position  of 
the  enemy,  or  whether  he  had  not  anchored  again,  in  Bur- 
lington Bay.  At  9,  P.  M.,  the  schooner  returned,  and  re- 
ported that  the  English  squadron  was  not  to  be  seen,  only 
two  gun-boats  being  visible.  As  a  discreet  and  experienced 
officer  had  been  sent  on  this  service,  Com.  Chauncey  im- 
mediately inferred  that  the  enemy  had  got  past  him,  during 
the  darkness  of  the  preceding  night,  and  that  he  had  gone 

VOL.  II.— 32 


378  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

down  the  lake,  either  to  cut  off  the  American  transports,  or 
to  gel  into  Kingston.  Sail  was  immediately  made  to  run 
off  the  Ducks,  with  a  view  to  intercept  Sir  James  Yeo,  or 
any  prizes  he  might  have  taken.  It  is  now  known  that  the 
officers  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  were  deceived,  the  British 
fleet  actually  lying  at  anchor  so  close  under  the  heights, 
that  their  hulls  and  spars  were  confounded  with  objects  on 
the  shore ;  the  gentlemen  sent  to  ascertain  the  fact  being 
too  eager  to  report  the  supposed  escape  of  the  enemy,  to  go 
near  enough  in  to  make  certain  of  the  truth.  There  is  little 
question  that  this  unfortunate  mistake  alone  saved  the 
British  squadron  from  a  signal  defeat;  the  result  of  the  ac- 
tion of  the  28th,  and  a  knowledge  of  recent  events  on  Lake 
Erie,  having  raised  such  a  feeling  among  the  American 
vessels,  as  would  almost  insure  a  victory,  and  the  end  of 
the  lake  being  now  a  weather  shore,  an  attack  at  anchor, 
would  have  been  perfectly  safe. 

That  night  and  the  succeeding  day,  the  American  squad- 
ron made  a  great  run,  the  wind  blowing  heavily  from  the 
N.  W.  At  3,  P.  M.,  on  the  5th,  seven  sail  were  seen  ahead, 
near  the  False  Ducks,  and  no  doubts  were  entertained  that 
they  were  the  British  squadron.  All  sail  was  carried  to 
close,  but  at  4  the  Chases  were  made  out  to  be  schooners 
and  sloops.  Signals  were  now  shown  for  the  Sylph  and 
Lady  of  the  Lake  to  cast  off  their  tows,  and  to  chase  to  the 
N.  E.  This  induced  the  strangers  to  separate,  when  the  > 
Pike  cast  off  the  Gov.  Tompkins,  and  past  ahead  also.  The 
strangers  now  set  fire  to  one  of  their  vessels,  the  other  six 
crowding  sail  to  escape.  At  sunset,  when  opposite  the 
Real  Ducks,  the  British  vessels  the  Confiance,  Hamilton 
and  Mary,  struck  to  the  Pike.  The  Sylph  soon  after  joined, , 
bringing  down  with  her  the  Drummond  cutter,  another 
prize,  and  early  next  morning  the  same  schooner  brought 
out  of  the  Ducks  the  Lady  Gore.  The  Enterprise,  the  se- 
venth vessel,  escaped. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  379 

The  prizes  were  gun-vessels,  carrying  from  one  to  three 
guns  each,  and  were  employed  as  transports;  a  part  of 
one  of  the  foreign  regiments  in  the  British  service  being  on 
board  at  the  time.  The  whole  number  of  prisoners  made 
amounted  to  264,  including  officers.  Among  the  latter 
were  a  lieutenant  and  two  master's  mates  of  the  British 
Royal  Navy,  and  four  masters  of  the  provincial  marine. 
Ten  officers  of  the  army  were  also  taken.  The  Confiance  and 
Hamilton,  two  of  the  prizes,  were  the  schooners  Growler 
and  Julia,  taken  on  the  night  of  the  8th  of  August,  which, 
the  enemy  had  rightly  judged,  would  prove  an  incumbrance 
rather  than  an  accession  to  their  squadron,  and  had  de- 
clined receiving  them  in  it.  This  circumstance,  of  itself, 
sufficiently  proves  the  equivocal  advantage  enjoyed  by  the 
possession  of  these  craft,  which  formed  so  conspicuous  a 
part  of  Com.  Chauncey's  force  on  paper,  the  enemy  being 
unwilling  to  injure  the  manoeuvring  of  his  vessels  by  using 
them. 

This  success  virtually  terminated  the  naval  struggle  for 
the  command  of  Lake  Ontario,  during  the  season  of  1813, 
Sir  James  Yeo,  probably  influenced  by  the  nature  of  the 
combat  on  the  28th  of  September,  appearing  disposed  to 
wait  for  a  reinforcement,  before  he  risked  another  action. 
For  the  remainder  of  the  season,  Com.  Chauncey  was  em- 
ployed in  watching  the  enemy  in  Kingston,  and  in  aiding 
the  army  in  its  descent  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  It  was  the 
wish  of  the  naval  commander  to  attack  Kingston,  and  he 
had  even  been  flattered  with  the  promise  that  his  favourite 
project  should  be  adopted,  but  about  the  middle  of  October 
the  scheme  appears  to  have  been  entirely  abandoned,  in 
order  to  make  a  descent  on  Montreal.  Had  the  first  plan 
been  adhered  to,  it  is  almost  certain  success  would  have 
attended  it,  and  the  whole  character  of  the  war  might  have 
been  changed. 

Early  in  November  Com.  Chauncey  was  lying  at  the 


380  NAVAL  HISTORT. 

outlet  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  below  the  east  end  of  Long 
Island,  when  Sir  James  Yeo  came  out  with  his  ships, 
and  anchored  within  two  leagues  of  him,  the  squadrons 
being  separated  by  a  chain  of  small  islands.  There  was 
but  one  passage  by  which  this  chain  could  be  passed,  and 
the  Americans  sent  boats  to  sound  it,  intending  to  lighten 
and  go  through,  when  the  enemy  lifted  his  anchors  and  re- 
turned to  port.  On  the  llth,  the  army  having  gone  down 
the  river,  the  American  squadron  went  into  the  Harbour. 

Two  days  later  Com.  Chauncey,  who  had  now  almost 
an  undisturbed  possession  of  the  lake,  went  to  the  Genesee, 
where,  on  the  16th  of  the  month,  he  took  on  board  1100 
men,  belonging  to  the  army  of  Gen.  Harrison.  A  severe 
gale  came  on,  by  which  the  vessels  were  separated,  some 
being  driven  as  far  west  as  the  head  of  the  lake.  The 
transports,  into  which  most  of  the  small  schooners  were 
now  converted,  having  been  finally  despatched,  the  commo- 
dore went  off  Kingston  again,  to  occupy  the  enemy,  and  to 
cover  the  passage  of  the  troops.  All  the  transports  had 
arrived  on  the  21st  but  the  Julia,  -which  did  not  get  in  until 
a  few  days  later.  The  Fair  American  had  gone  ashore 
near  the  Niagara,  during  the  gale,  but  was  got  off,  and 
reached  the  Harbour  on  the  27th.  By  this  time,  the  navi- 
gation of  the  lake  was  virtually  closed,  and  it  being  too  late 
to  attempt  any  naval  operations,  while  the  duty  of  trans- 
porting the  troops  and  stores  had  been  successfully  per-' 
formed,  preparations  were  made  to  lay  the  vessels  up  for 
the  winter. 

Thus  terminated  the  naval  operations  on  Lake  Ontario, 
during  the  season  of  1813.  The  peculiar  nature  of  the  ser- 
vice rendered  the  duties  of  both  commanders  extremely 
arduous,  and  each  appears  to  have  acquitted  himself  well  in 
his  particular  station.  It  was  the  policy,  and  it  is  under- 
stood it  had  been  made  the  enjoined  duty  of  Sir  James  Yeo, 
by  means  of  especial  orders,  to  avoid  a  general  action, 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  381 

unless  under  decidedly  favourable  circumstances,  and  the 
identified  character  of  his  vessels  enabled  him  to  pursue  the 
course  prescribed,  with  tolerable  success,  though  the  perse- 
verance and  personal  intrepidity  of  his  antagonist,  had 
forced  him  to  the  very  verge  of  a  total  defeat  in  the  affair 
of  the  28th  of  September.  In  executing  his  orders,  the 
English  commodore,  who  was  an  officer  of  rare  merit, 
manifested  great  steadiness,  self-denial  and  address,  and  the 
skill  and  boldness  with  which  he  manosuvred,  received  the 
applause  of  his  enemies.  That  he  was  kept  principally  on 
the  defensive,  and  was  prevented  from  effecting  any  thing 
of  importance,  was  owing  to  the  vigilance  and  activity  of 
his  opponent,  who  so  often  anticipated  his  measures,  and 
so  closely  pressed  him,  whenever  there  was  an  opportunity 
to  engage. 

But  the  success  of  the  naval  efforts  of  this  season,  was 
decidedly  with  the  Americans.  By  covering  the  descent 
at  York,  and  producing  the  fall  of  that  place,  where  a  very 
large  amount  of  stores  was  captured,  one  new  cruiser  of 
some  force  destroyed,  and  a .  second  brought  off,  Com. 
Chauncey  deprived  his  enemy  of  the  means  of  effectually 
securing  a  decided  superiority  on  the  lake,  as  the  first  blow 
of  the  season.  The  fall  of  Fort  George,  which  altogether 
depended  on  the  co-operation  of  the  navy,  led  the  way  to 
the  success  on  the  upper  lake,  to  the  recapture  of  Michigan, 
and  to  the  virtual  submission,  for  the  remainder  of  the  cam- 
paign, of  all  the  higher  counties  of  Upper  Canada.  An 
army  was  transported  from  the  foot  of  the  lake  to  its  head, 
in  the  spring,  and  from  near  the  head  to  the  foot  in  the 
autumn;  nor  is  it  known  that  a  single  man,  gun,  or  any 
amount  of  stores  that  was  confided  to  the  navy,  in  the 
course  of  this  service,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
All  the  duty  required  for  the  army  was  effectually  accom- 
plished, and  without  molestation  from  the  English,  while  the 
latter,  with  the  exception  of  a  very  short  period,  during 

32* 


382  NAVAL  H1STORT. 

which  the  Pike  was  waiting  for  her  guns,  was  obliged  to 
perform  the  similar  service  for  his  own  army,  clandestinely, 
and  with  the  utmost  caution.  It  has  been  seen  that  one  of 
his  transports  was  burned,  and  that  five  were  captured. 
The  only  reverse  sustained  by  the  American  squadron,  was 
the  loss  of  the  Growler  and  Julia,  as  mentioned,  and  this 
resulted  from  no  fault  of  the  commanding  officer,  whose 
dispositions  were  officer-like  and  simple. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer  the  hostile  squadrons  were 
three  times  engaged.  On  two  of  these  occasions  the  enemy 
had  the  wind,  or  obtained  it  before  the  ships  could  close, 
and  it  rested  with  him,  of  course,  to  bring  on  a  general  ac- 
tion, or  to  avoid  it.  On  the  third,  the  Americans  attacked 
with  so  much  vigour,  with  only  a  part  of  their  force,  as  to 
leave  no  doubt  what  would  have  been  the  result,  had  not  the 
English  vessels  put  before  the  wind.  Among  American 
seamen,  the  manner  in  which  Com.  Chauncey  bore  down 
on  the  hostile  line  of  the  enemy,  on  the  28th  of  September, 
supported  by  Mr.  Finch,  in  the  Governor  Tompkins,  and  a 
schooner  in  tow,  has  ever  been  considered  as  an  instance 
of  high  professional  feeling  and  spirit ;  cases  of  so  much 
self-devotion,  coolness  and  intrepidity,  in  which  British 
squadrons  have  been  the  party  attacked,  being  extremely 
rare  in  modern  times.  It  is  not  certain  that  a  parallel  to  it 
can  be  found  within  a  century,  if  we  except  a  very  striking 
instance  afforded  by  the  conduct  of  Capt.  Perry,  of  whom 
there  will  be  occasion  to  speak,  in  the  succeeding  chapter. 

Notwithstanding  the  services  of  the  naval  commander  on 
the  great  lakes,  public  expectation,  at  the  time,  was  disap- 
pointed. Bodies  of  men,  who  are  seldom  competent  to  judge 
of  the  nicer  circumstances  that  qualify  merit,  and  particu- 
larly that  which  is  so  exclusively  of  a  professional  charac- 
ter as  the  conduct  of  a  naval  commander,  are  apt  to  assume 
that  success  is  the  only  admissible  standard,  and  while  the 
success  of  the  season,  was  clearly  with  the  Americans,  it 


If  AVAL  HISTORIf.  383 

was  not  success  of  the  brilliant  and  attractive  nature,  tha 
is  the  most  apt  to  extort  popular  admiration.  Few  w 
qualified  to  understand  that  the  size  of  the  lake  favoured  the 
policy  of  Sir  James  Yeo,  by  enabling  him  to  run  under  the 
guns  of  his  own  batteries,  when  hardest  pressed,  bijt  the 
majority  considered  that  the  smaller  the  sheet  of  water  on 
which  the  operations  occurred,  the  easier  it  would  be  to 
bring  on  an  action.  On  the  several  occasions  in  which  the 
American  squadron  chased  the  enemy  into  Burlington, 
Amherst  and  Kingston  Bays,  the  public  was  more  disposed 
to  regard  the  force  in  the  presence  of  which  the  different 
escapes  were  made,  than  the  facilities  that  existed  to  effect 
it.  It  called  for  victory,  without  recollecting  that  the  con- 
sent of  both  belligerents  would  be  necessary  to  obtain  even 
a. battle;  and  of  all  those  who  were  most  disposed  to  com- 
pare the  absence  of  a  victory  on  Lake  Ontario,  with  the 
brilliant  successes  elsewhere  obtained,  few  probably  remem- 
bered that  no  instance  occurred  in  the  whole  war,  the  pecu- 
liar cases  of  the  Essex  and  President  excepted,  in  which 
either  an  English  or  an  American  public  vessel  was  cap- 
tured, after  a  battle,  and  in  which  the  defeated  party  avoided 
the  combat.  Owing  to  the  chances  of  war,  in  no  instance 
whatever,  was  an  English  ship  taken  under  such  circum- 
stances. 

But  time  has  gradually  weakened  this  feeling,  and  the 
countrv  already  views  the  efforts  of  Com.  Chauncey  in  their 
true  light.  The  rapidity  and  decision  with  which  he  created 
a  force,  as  it  might  be  in  a  wilderness,  the  professional  re- 
sources that  he  discovered  in  attaining  this  great  end,  and 
the  combined  gallantry  and  prudence  with  which  he  con- 
ducted before  the  enemy,  are  beginning  to  be  fully  appreci- 
ated, while  the  intrepidity  with  which  he  carried  his  ship 
into  action  off  York,  has  already  become  a  subject  of  honest 
exultation  in  the  service  to  which  he  belongs.  If  the  American 
commander  committed  a  fault,  in  the  course  of  the  arduous 


384  If  AVAL  BISTORT. 

duties  of  the  months  of  August,  September,  October  and 
November,  it  was  in  not  making  a  signal  to  his  squadron  to 
cast  off  their  tows,  after  the  enemy  bore  up  on  the  28th  of 
September ;  but  though  it  may  now  be  easy  to  detect  the 
error,  he  chose  the  side  of  a  discreet  caution,  having  every 
human  probability  of  getting  along  side  of  his  enemy  on  his 
own  terms,  as  soon  as  the  gale  should  abate.  That  he  did 
not,  was  purely  the  result  of  accident,  or  rather  of  the  mis- 
take of  an  experienced  and  prudent  officer,  on  whose  report 
he  had  every  motive  to  rely.  Had  Com.  Chauncey  follow- 
ed Sir  James  Yeo  into  Burlington  Bay,  on  that  occasion, 
he  would  probably  have  obtained  one  of  the  highest  reputa- 
tions of  the  American  navy,  without  as  much  deserving  it 
as  at  present. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  385 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


THE  manner  in  which  the  service  commenced*  on  the 
upper  lakes,  has  been  already  mentioned,  but  it  will  connect 
the  narrative  to  make  a  short  recapitulation.  It  will  be  re- 
membered that  late  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  Lieut.  Elliott  had 
been  sent  to  the  foot  of  Erie  to  contract  for  some  schooners. 
He  was  soon  after  recalled  to  Ontario,  and  succeeded  in 
command  by  Lieut.  Angus.  Not  long  after  the  landing  at 
Erie,  Mr.  Angus  returned  to  the  sea-board,  and  Lieut. 
Pettigrew,  for  a  short  time,  was  in  command.  In  the  course 
of  the  winter,  Capt.  O.  H.  Perry,  then  a  young  master  and 
commander  at  the  head  of  the  flotilla  of  gun-boats,  at 
Newport,  Rhode  Island,  finding  no  immediate  prospect  of 
getting  to  sea  in  a  sloop-of-war,  volunteered  for  the  lake 
service.  Capt.  Perry  brought  on  with  him  a  number  of 
officers,  and  a  few  men,  and  Com.  Chauncey  gladly  avail- 
ed himself  of  the  presence  of  an  officer  of  his  rank, 
known  spirit  and  zeal,  to  send  him  on  the  upper  lakes,  in 
command,  where  he  arrived  in  the  course  of  the  winter. 
From  this  time,  until  the  navigation  opened,  Capt.  Perry 
was  actively  employed,  under  all  the  embarrassments  of 
his  frontier  position,  in  organizing  and  creating  a  force, 
with  which  he  might  contend  with  the  enemy  for  the  mas- 
tery of  those  important  waters.  Two  large  brigs,  to  mount 
20  guns  each,  were  laid  down  at  Presque  Isle,  and  a  few 
gun-vessels,  or  schooners,  were  also  commenced.  The 


386  JTAVAL  BISTORT. 

spring  passed  in  procuring  guns,  shot,  and  other  supplies, 
and,  as  circumstances  allowed,  a  draft  of  men  would  arrive 
from  below,  to  aid  in  equipping  the  different  vessels.  As 
soon  as  the  squadron  of  Com.  Chauncey  appeared  off  the 
mouth  of  Niagara,  Capt.  Perry,  with  some  of  his  officers, 
went  to  join  it,  and  the  former  was  efficiently  employed  in 
superintending  the  disembarkation  of  the  troops,  as  has  been 
already  related.  The  fall  of  Fort  George  produced  that  of 
Fort  Erie,  when  the  whole  of  the  Niagara  frontier  came  un- 
der the  control  of  the  American  army. 

Capt.  Perry  now  repaired  to  his  own  command,  and  with 
infinite  labour,  he  succeeded  in  getting  the  vessels  that  had 
so  long  been  detained  in  the  Niagara,  by  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries, out  of  the  river.  This  important  service  was  ef- 
fected by  the  12th  of  June,  and  preparations  were  immedi- 
ately commenced  for  appearing  on  the  lake.  These  vessels 
consisted  of  the  brig  Caledonia,  (a  prize,)  and  the  schooners 
Catherine,  Ohio,  and  Amelia ;  with  the  sloop  Contractor. 
The  Catherine  was  named  the  Somers,  the  Amelia  the  Ti- 
gress, and  the  Contractor  the  Trippe.  At  this  time,  the 
enemy  had  a  cruising  force  under  the  orders  of  Capt.  Fin- 
nis,  which  consisted  of  the  Queen  Charlotte,  a  ship  of  be- 
tween three  and  four  hundred  tons,  and  mounting  17  guns; 
the  Lady  Prevost,  a  fine  warlike  schooner,  of  about  two 
hundred  tons,  that  mounted  13  guns;  the  brig  Hunter,  a 
vessel  a  little  smaller,  of  10  guns,  and  three  or  four  lighter 
cruisers.  He  was  also  building,  at  Maiden,  a  ship  of  near 
five  hundred  tons  measurement,  that  was  to  mount  19  guns, 
and  which  was  subsequently  called  the  Detroit.* 

•;**•  .•/'•'"  ."•*.'  '          :"•;..  *'  .'  -'. 

*  Contradictory  accounts  having  been  given  of  the  sizes  of  these  ves- 
sels, the  writer  feels  it  due  to  himself  to  mention  his  authorities.  At  the 
Navy  Department  is  an  appraisement  of  the  prizes  taken  on  Lake  Erie, 
made  by  two  impartial  and  experienced  captains,  in  conjunction  with  the 
celebrated  builder,  Henry  Eckford.  With  a  view  to  compare  the  opi- 
nions of  these  gentlemen  with  those  of  others  competent  to  judge,  an 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  387 

It  was  near  the  end  of  June  before  Capt.  Perry  was 
ready  to  sail  from  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie,  for  Presque 
Isle.  There  being  no  intention  to  engage  the  enemy,  and 
little  dread  of  meeting  him  in  so  short  a  run,  as  she  came 
in  sight  of  her  port  each  vessel  made  the  best  of  her 
way.  The  enemy  had  chosen  this  moment  to  look  into 
Presque  Isle,  and  both  squadrons  were  in  view  from  the 
shore,  at  the  same  time,  though,  fortunately  for  the  Ameri- 
cans, the  English  did  not  get  a  sight  of  them,  until  they 
were  too  near  the  land  to  be  intercepted.  As  the  last 
vessel  got  in,  the  enemy  hove  in  sight,  in  the  offing. 

officer  familiar  with  the  vessels,  now  a  captain,  was  desired  to  set  down 
his  recollections  of  the  sizes  of  the  six  British  vessels  taken  on  Lake 
Erie.  In  "James*  Naval  Occurrences,"  a  work  of  no  authority,  cer- 
tainly, in  matters  of  opinion  at  least,  is  a  table  professing  to  contain  the 
English  statement  of  the  same  tonnage.  As  it  is  not  improbable  this 
statement  was  derived  from  the  public  offices,  we  give  the  three  as  we 

found  them. 

Appraisers.      Am.  Officer.         James. 

Detroit,  near  500  tons.  do.  500  305 

Queen  Charlotte,  about  400  380  280 

LadyPrevost,                        230  200  120 

Hunter,                                    180  150  74 

Little  Belt,  near  100  70  54 

Chippeway,  near  100  70  32 

1510  1370  865 

It  is  proper  to  add,  that  the  American  officer  consulted,  knew  nothing 
of  the  appraisement.  The  discrepancy  between  the  American  and  Eng- 
lish accounts  may  possibly  be  explained  in  the  following  manner.  A  ves- 
sel of  war  is  measured  for  the  purposes  of  estimating  her  cost,  half  the 
breadth  of  beam  being  assumed  to  be  the  depth  of  hold.  The  vessels  on 
the  lakes  could  scarcely  be  said  to  have  any  holds ;  the  American  brigs, 
which,  on  the  ocean,  would  have  drawn  16  feet  of  water,  drawing  not 
more  than  half  as  much  on  the  lakes.  Consequently,  the  carpenter's 
work  was  essentially  less,  on  these  vessels,  than  on  those  built  for  the 
ocean.  The  object  of  the  measurement  being  to  calculate  the  cost,  it  is  not 
improbable  that  Mr.  James  has  been  furnished  with  an  estimate  of  the 
tonnage,  by  which  the  holds  were  actually  measured,  as  is  usual  with  ves- 
sels that  have  but  one  deck,  a  mode  of  calculating  that  would  fully  ac- 
count for  the  difference. 


388  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

The  two  brigs  laid  down  in  the  winter,  under  the  direc- 
tions of  Com.  Chauncey,  had  been  launched  towards  the 
close  of  May,  and  were  now  in  a  state  of  forwardness. 
They  were  called  the  Lawrence  and  the  Niagara.  The 
schooners  also  were  in  the  water,  and  Capt.  Perry,  having 
all  his  vessels  in  one  port,  employed  himself  in  getting 
them  ready  for  service,  as  fast  as  possible.  Still  various 
stores  were  wanting.  There  was  a  great  deficiency  of 
men,  particularly  of  seamen,  and  Capt.  Perry,  and  Mr.  D. 
Turner,  were,  as  yet,  the  only  commissioned  sea-officers  on 
the  lake.  The  latter,  moreover,  was  quite  young  in  years, 
as  well  as  in  rank. 

Presque  Isle,  or,  as  the  place  is  now  called,  Erie,  was  a 
good  and  spacious  harbour ;  but  it  then  had  a  bar  on  which 
there  was  less  than  seven  feet  of  water.  This  bar,  which 
had  hitherto  answered  the  purposes  of  a  fortification,  now 
offered  a  serious  obstruction  to  getting  the  two  brigs  on  the 
lake.  It  lay  about  half  a  mile  outside,  and  offered  great  ad- 
vantages to  the  enemy,  did  he  choose  to  profit  by  them,  for 
attacking  the  Americans  while  employed  in  passing  it.  So 
sensible  was  Capt.  Perry  of  this,  that  he  adopted  the  ut- 
most secrecy  in  order  to  conceal  his  intentions,  for  it  was 
known  that  the  enemy  had  spies  closely  watching  his  move- 
ments. 

Capt.  Barclay  had  lately  superseded  Capt.  Finnis  in  the 
command  of  the  English  force,  and  for  near  a  week  he 
had  been  blockading  the  American  vessels,  evidently  with 
an  intention  to  prevent  their  getting  out,  it  being  known 
that  this  bar  could  be  crossed  only  in  smooth  water.  On 
Friday,  the  2d  of  August,  he  suddenly  disappeared  in  the 
northern  board.* 

*  It  is  said  that  Capt.  Barclay  lost  the  command  of  Lake  Erie,  by  ac- 
cepting an  invitation  to  dine  on  Sunday,  with  a  gentlemen  on  the  north 
shore.  While  his  vessels  were  under  the  Canadian  coast,  the  lake  be- 
came smooth,  and  the  bar  passable.  Capt.  Perry  seized  the  precious 
moment,  and  effected  his  purpose. 


NAVAL  HISTORV.  389 

The  next  day  but  one  was  Sunday,  and  the  officers 
were  ashore  seeking  the  customary  relaxation.  Without 
any  appearances  of  unusual  preparation,  Capt.  Perry  pri- 
vately gave  the  order  to. repair  on  board  their  respective 
vessels,  and  to  drop  down  to  the  bar.  This  command  was 
immediately  obeyed;  and  at  about  2  P.  M.,  the  Lawrence 
had  been  towed  to  the  point  where  the  deepest  water  was 
known  to  be.  Her  guns  were  whipped  out,  loaded  and  shot- 
ted as  they  were,  and  landed  on  the  beach;  two  large 
scows,  prepared  for  the  purpose,  were  hauled  along  side, 
and  the  work  of  lifting  the  brig  proceeded  as  fast  as  possi- 
ble. Pieces  of  massive  ti:nber  had  been  run  through  the 
forward  and  after  ports,  and  when  the  SCQWS  were  sunk  to 
the  water's  edge,  the  ends  of  the  timbers  were  blocked  up, 
supported  by  these  floating  foundations.  The  plugs  were 
now  put  in  the  scows,  and  the  water  was  pumped  out  of 
them.  By  this  process,  the  brig  was  lifted  quite  two  feet, 
though,  when  she  was  got  on  the  bar,  it  was  found  that  she 
still  drew  too  much  water.  It  became  necessary,  in  con- 
sequence, to  come  up  every  thing,  sink  the  scows  anew,  and 
to  block  up  the  timbers  afresh.  This  duty  occupied, the  night. 

The  schooners  had  crossed  the  bar,  and  were  moored  out- 
side, and  preparations  were  hurriedly  made  to  receive  an  at- 
tack. About  8  A.  M.,  the  enemy  re-appeared.  At  this  time, 
the  Lawrence  was  just  passing  the  bar.  A  distant,  short  and 
harmless  cannonade  ensued,  though  it  had  the  effect  to 
keep  the  enemy  from  running  in.  As  soon  as  the  Lawrence 
was  in  deep  water,  her  guns  were  hoisted  in,  manned  as 
fasj.  as  mounted,  and  the  brig's  broadside  was  sprung  to 
bear  on  the  English  squadron.  Fortunately,  the  Niagara 
crossed  on  the  first  trial ;  and  before  night,  all  the  vessels 
were  as  ready  for  service,  as  circumstances  would  then  al- 
low. I$ut  the  enemy  remained  with  his  topsails  to  the  mast 
for  only  half  an  hour,  sullenly  reconnoitring,  then  filled,  and 
went  up  the  lake  under  a  press  of  canvass. 

VOL.  II.— 33 


390  NAVAL  HISTORT. 

This  occurred  on  the  4th  of  August,  and  on  the  5th, 
Capt.  Perry  sailed  in  quest  of  the  enemy,  having  taken  on 
board  a  number  of  soldiers  and  volunteers.  He  ran  off 
Long  Point,  and  sweeping  the  Canada  shore  for  some 
distance,  returned  to  Erie  oq  ihe  8th.  Taking  in  some 
supplies,  he  was  nbout  to  sail  again,  to  proceed  up  the 
lake,  when  intelligence  arrived  that  the  party  sent  from 
below,  under  Lieut  Elliott,  and  which  has  been  previously 
mentioned,  was  at  Cattaraugus,  on  its  way  to  join  the  squad- 
ron. A  'vessel  was  immediately  sent  for  this  acceptable 
reinforcement.  Shortly  after  its  arrival,  the  commissions 
that  had  been  made  out  some  time  previously,  were  receiv- 
ed from  below.  By  these  changes,  Mr.  Elliott  became  a 
master  and  commander,  and  Messrs.  Holdup,  Packett, 
Yarnall,  Edwards,  and  Conklin,  were  raised  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenants.  Most  of  these  gentlemen,  however,  had 
been  acting  for  some  months. 

The  American  squadron  now  consisted  of  the  Lawrence 
20,  Capt.  Perry;  Niagara  20,  Capt.  Elliott;  Caledonia  3, 
Mr.  M'Grath,  a  purser;  Ariel  4,  Lieut.  Packett;  Trippe  1, 
Lieut.  Smith;  Tigress  1,  Lieut.  Conklin;  Somers  2,  Mr. 
Almy;  Scorpion  2,  Mr.  Charnplin;  Ohio  1,  Mr.  Dobbins; 
and  Porcupine  1,  Mr-  Senatt.  On  the  18th  of  August  it  sailed 
from  Erie,  and  off  Sandusky,  a  few  days  later,  it  chased, 
and  was  near  capturing  one  of  the  enemy's  schooners. 

The  squadron  now  cruised  for  several  days,  near  the  en- 
trance of  the  strait,  when  Capt.  Perry  was  taken  ill  with  the 
fever  peculiar  to  these  waters,  and  shortly  after  the  vessels 
went  into  a  harbour,  among  some  islands  that  lay  at  no 
great  distance,  which  is  called  Put-in  Bay. 

Here  some  changes  occurred,  Mr.  Smith  going  to  the 
Niagara,  and  Mr.  Holdup  to  the  Trippe;  Mr.  M'Grath  went 
also  to  the  Niagara,  and  Mr.  Turner  took  command  of  the 
Caledonia.  The  Ohio  was  sent  down  the  lake  on  duty. 

The  squadron  was  still  lying  at  Put-in  Bay,  on  the  morning 
of  the  10th  of  September,  when,  at  day  light,  the  enemy's  ships 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  391 

were  discovered  at  the  N.  W.,  from  (he  mast-head  of  the 
Lawrence.  A  signal  was  immediately  made  for  all  the 
vessels  to  get  under  way.  The  wind  was  light  at  S.  W., 
and  there  was  no  mode  of  obtaining  the  weather-gage  of  the 
enemy,  a  very  important  measure  with  the  peculiar  arma- 
ment of  the  largest  of  the  American  vessels,  but  by  beating 
round  some  small  islands  that  lay  in  the  way.  It  being 
thought  there  was  not  sufficient  time  for  this,  though  the 
boats  were  got  ahead  to  tow,  a  signal  was  about  to  be  made 
for  the  vessels  to  ware,  and  to  pass  to  leeward  of  the 
islands,  with  an  intention  of  giving  the  enemy  this  great  ad- 
vantage, when  the  wind  shifted  to  S.  E.  By  this  change 
the  American  squadron  was  enabled  to  pass  the  islands  in 
the  desired  direction,  and  to  gain  the  wind.  When  he  per- 
ceived the  American  vessels  clearing  the  land,  or  about  10 
A.  M.,  the  enemy  hove-to,  in  a  line,  with  his  ships'  heads  to 
the  westward.  At  this  time  the  two  squadrons  were  about 
three  leagues  asunder,  the  breeze  being  still  at  S.  E.,  and 
sufficient  to  work  with.  After  standing  down,  until  about  a 
league  from  the  English,  where  a  better  view  was  got  of 
the  manner  in  which  the  enemy  had  formed  his  line,  the 

^r  * 

leading  vessels  of  his  own  squadron  being  within  hail,  Capt. 
Perry  communicated  a  new  order  of  attack.  It  had  been 
expected  that  the  Queen  Charlotte,  the  second  of  the  English 
vessels,,  in  regard  to  force,  would  be  at  the  head  of  their 
line,  and  the  Niagara  had  been  destined  to  lead  in,  and  to  lie 
against  her,  Capt.  Perry  having  reserved  for  himself  a  com- 
mander's privilege  of  engaging  the  principal  vessel  of  the 
opposing  squadron;  but,  it  now  appearing  that  the  antici- 
pated arrangement  had  not  been  made,  the  plan  was  promptly 
altered.  Capt.  Barclay  had  formed  his  line  with  the  Chip- 
peway,  Mr.  Campbell,  armed  with  one  gun  on  a  pivot,  in 
the  van;  the  Detroit,  his  own  vessel,  next;  and  the  Hun- 
ter,, Lieut.  Bignall;  Queen  Charlotte,  Capt.  Finnis ;  Lady 
Prevost,  Lieut.  Com.  Buchan;  and  Little  Belt  astern,  in  the 


392  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

order  named.  To  oppose  this  line,  the  Ariel,  of  4  long 
twelves,  was  stationed  in  the  van,  and  the  Scorpion,  of  one 
long  and  one  short  gun  on  circles,  next  her.  The  Law- 
rence, Capt.  Perry,  came  neit;  the  two  schooners  just  men- 
tioned keeping  on  her  weather  bow,  having  no  quarters. 
The  Caledonia,  Lieut.  Turner,  was  the  next  astern,  and  the 
Niagara,  Capt.  Elliott,  was  placed  next  to  the  Caledonia. 
These  vessels  were  all  up  at  the  time,  but  the  other  light 
craft  were  more  or  less  distant,  each  endeavouring  to  get 
into  her  berth.  The  order  of  battle  for  the  remaining 
vessels,  directed  the  Tigress  to  fall  in  astern  of  the  Niagara, 
the  Somers  next,  and  the  Porcupine  and  Trippe,  in  the  or- 
der named.* 

By  .this  time  the  wind  had  got  to  be  very  light,  but  the 
leading  vessels  were  all  in  their  stations,  and  the  remainder 
were  endeavouring  to  get  in  as  fast  as  possible.  At  this 
moment,  the  English  vessels  presented  a  very  gallant  array, 
and  their  appearance  has-been  described  as  beautiful  and 
imposing.  Their  line  was  compact,  with  the  heads  of  the 
vessels  still  to  the  southward  and  westward;  their  ensigns 
were  just  opening  to  the  air;  their  vessels  were  freshly  paint- 
ed, and  their  canvass  was  new  and  perfect.  The  American 
line  was  more  straggling.  The  order  of  battle  required 
them  to  form  within  half  a  cable's  length  of  each  other,  but 
the  schooners  astern  could  not  close  with  the  vessels  ahead, 
which  sailed  faster,  and  had  more  light  canvass,  until  some 
considerable  time  had  elapsed. 

*  In  consequence  of  neither  of  the  commanding1  officers  having  given 
hi?  order  of  battle  in  his  published  official  letter,  it  is  difficult  to  obtain 
the  stations  of  some  of  the  smaller  vessels.  By  some  accounts,  the  Lady 
Prevost  is  said  to  have  been  between  the  Detroit  and  the  Queen  Charlotte, 
by  others,  the  Hunter.  The  latter  is  believed  to  be  the  true  statement. 
On  the  other  hand,  some  accounts  place  the  Somers,  and  others  the  Ti- 
gress, next  astern  of  the  Niagara.  The  fact  is  immaterial,  but  the  ac- 
count which  seems  to  be  best  authenticated,  has  been  chosen: 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  393 

A  few  minutes  before  twelve,  the  Detroit  threw  a  24 
pound  shot  at  the  Lawrence,  then  on  her  weather  quarter, 
distant  between  one  and  two  miles.  Capt.  Perry  now  pass- 
ed an  order,  by  the  trumpet,  through  the  vessels  astern,  for 
the  line  to  close  to  the  prescribed  order,  and  soon  after,  the 
Scorpion  was  hailed,  and  directed  to  begin  with  her  long 
guns.  At  this  moment,  the  American  vessels  in  line  were 
edging  down  upon  the  English,  those  in  front  being  neces- 
sarily nearer  to  the  enemy  than  those  astern  of  them,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Ariel  and  Scorpion,  which  two  schoon- 
ers had  been  ordered  to  keep  to  windward  of  the  Lawrence. 
As  the  Detroit  had  an  armament  of  long  guns,  Capt.  Bar- 
clay manifested  his  judgment  in  commencing  the  action  in 
this  manner,  and  in  a  short  time,  the  firing  between  that 
ship,  the  Lawrence,  and  the  two  schooners  at  the  head  of 
the  American  line,  became  animated.  A  few  minutes  later 
the  vessels  astern  began  to  fire,  and  the  action  became 
general,  but  distant.  The  Lawrence^  however,  appeared  to 
be  the  principal  aim  of  the  enemy,  and  before  the  firing  had 
lasted  any  material  time,  the  Detroit,  Hunter,  and  Queen 
Charlotte,  were  directing  most  of  their  efforts  against  her. 
The  American  brig  endeavoured  to  close,  and  did  succeed 
in  getting  within  reach  of  canister,  though  not  without 
suffering  materially,  as  she  fanned  down  upon  the  enemy. 
At  this  time,  the  support  of  the  two  schooners  ahead,  which 
were  well  commanded  and  fought,  was  of  the  greatest  mo- 
ment to  her,  for  the  vessels  astern,  though  in  the  line,  could 
be  of  little  use  in  diverting  the  fire,  on  account  of  their  po- 
sitions and  the  distance.  After  the  firing  had  lasted  some 
time,  the  Niagara  hailed  the  Caledonia,  and  directed  the 
latter  to  make  room  for  the  brig  to  pass  ahead.  Mr.  Tur- 
ner put  his  helm  up  in  the  most  dashing  manner,  and  con- 
tinued to  near  the  enemy,  until  he  was  closer  to  his  line, 
perhaps,  than  the  commanding  vessel;  keeping  up  as  warm 

33* 


394  IfAVAL  HISTORY. 

a  fire  as  his  small  armament  would  allow.     The  Niagara 
now  became  the  vessel  next  astern  of  the  Lawrence. 

The  effect  of  the  cannonade  was  necessarily  to  deaden 
the  wind,  and  for  nearly  two  hours,  there  was  very  little 
air.  During  all  this  time,  the  weight  of  the  enemy's  fire 
continued  to  be  directed  at  the  Lawrence;  even  the  Queen 
Charlotte,  having  filled,  passed  the  Hunter,  and  got  under 
the  stern  of  the  Detroit,  where  she  kept  up  a  destructive 
cannonade  on  this  devoted  vessel.  The  effect  of  these 
united  attacks,  besides  producing  a  great  slaughter  on  board 
the  Lawrence,  was  nearly  to  dismantle  her,  and,  at  the  end 
of  two  hours  and  a  half,  agreeably  to  Capt.  Perry's  report, 
the  British  vessels  having  filled,  and  the  wind  beginning  to 
increase,  the  two  squadrons  moved  slowly  ahead,  the  Law- 
rence necessarily  dropping  astern  and  partially  out  of  the 
combat.  At  this  moment  the  Niagara  passed  to  the  west- 
ward, a  short  distance  to  windward  of  the  Lawrence,  steer- 
ing for  the  head  of  the  enemy's  line,  and  the  Caledonia 
followed,  to  leeward. 

The  vessels  astern  had  not  been  idle,  but,  by  dint  of 
sweeping  and  sailing,  they  had  all  got  within  reach  of  their 
guns,  and  had  been  gradually  closing,  though  not  in  the 
prescribed  order.  The  rear  of  the  line  would  seem  to  have 
inclined  down  towards  the  enemy,  bringing  the  Trippe, 
Lieut.  Holdup,  so  near  the  Caledonia,  that  the  latter  sent  a 
boat  to  her  for  a  supply  of  cartridges. 

Capt.  Perry,  finding  himself  in  a  vessel  that  had  been 
rendered  nearly  useless  by  the  injuries  she  had  received, 
and  which  was  dropping  out  of  the  combat,  got  into  his 
boat,  and  pulled  after  the  Niagara,  on  board  of  which  ves- 
sel he  arrived  at  about  half  past  2.  Soon  after,  the  colours 
of  the  Lawrence  were  hauled  down,  that  vessel  being  liter- 
ally a  wreck. 

After  a  short  consultation  between  Capts.  Perry  and  El- 
liott, the  latter  volunteered  to  take  the  boat  of  the  former, 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  395 

and  to  proceed  and  bring  the  small  vessels  astern,  which 
were  already  briskly  engaged,  into  still  closer  action.  This 
proposal  being  accepted,  Capt.  Elliott  pulled  down  the  line, 
passing  within  hail  of  all  the  small  vessels  astern,  directing 
them  to  close  within  half  pistol  shot  of  the  enemy,  and  to 
throw  in  grape  and  canister,  as  soon  as  they  could  get  the 
desired  positions.  He  then  repaired  on  board  the  Somers, 
and  took  charge  of  that  schooner  in  person. 

When  the  enemy  saw  the  colours  of  the  Lawrence  come 
down,  he  confidently  believed  that  he  had  gained  the  day. 
His  men  appeared  over  the  bulwarks  of  the  different  ves- 
sels and  gave  three  cheers.  For  a  few  minutes,  indeed, 
there  appears  to  have  been  a  general  cessation  in  the  firing, 
as  if  by  common  consent,  during  which  both  parties  were 
preparing  for  a  desperate  and  final  effort.  The  wind  had 
freshened,  and  the  position  of  the  Niagara,  which  brig  was 
now  abeam  of  the  leading  English  vessel,  was  commanding, 
while  the  gun- vessels  astern,  in  consequence  of  the  increas- 
ing breeze,  were  enabled  to  close  very  fast. 

At  45  minutes  past  2,  or  when  time  had  been  given  to  the 
gun-vessels  to  receive  the  order  mentioned,  Capt.  Perry 
showed  the  signal  from  the  Niagara,  for  close  action,  and 
immediately  bore  up,  under  his  foresail  top-sails  and  top- 
gallant-sail. As  the  American  vessels  hoisted  their  an- 
swering flags,  this  order  was  received  with  three  cheers, 
and  it  was  obeyed  with  alacrity  and  spirit.  The  enemy 
now  attempted  to  ware  round,  to  get  fresh  broadsides  to 
bear,  in  doing  which  his  line  got  into  confusion,  and  the 
two  ships,  for  a  short  time,  were  foul  of  each  other,  while 
the  Lady  Prevost  had  so  far  shifted  her  berth,  as  to  be  both 
to  the  westward  and  to  the  leeward  of  the  Detroit.  At  this 
critical  moment,  the  Niagara  came  steadily  down,  within 
half-pistol  shot  of  the  enemy,  standing  between  the  Chippe- 
way  and  Lady  Prevost,  on  one  side,  and  the  Detroit,  Queen 
Charlotte  and  Hunter,  on  the  other.  In  passing,  she  poured 


396  XAVAL  HISTORY. 

in  her  broadsides,  starboard  and  larboard,  ranged  ahead  of 
the  ships,  luffed  athwart  their  bows,  and  continued  delivering 
a  close  and  deadly  fire.  The  shrieks  from  the  Detroit,  proved 
that  the  tide  of  battle  had  turned.  At  the  same  moment,  the 
gun-vessels  and  Caledonia  were  throwing  in  close  discharges 
of  grape  and  canister  astern.  A  conflict  so  fearfully  close, 
and  so  deadly,  was  necessarily  short.  In  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes  after  the  Niagara  bore  up,  a  hail  was  passed 
among  the  small  vessels,  to  say  that  the  enemy  had  struck, 
and  an  officer  of  the  Queen  Charlotte  appeared  on  the 
taffrail  of  that  ship,  waving  a  white  handkerchief,  bent  to  a 
boarding  pike. 

As  soon  as  the  smoke  cleared  away,  the  two  squadrons 
were  found  partly  intermingled.  The  Niagara  lay  to  lee- 
ward of  the  Detroit,  Queen  Charlotte,  and  Hunter,  and  the 
Caledonia,  with  one  or  two  of  the  gun-vessels,  was  between 
them  and  the  Lady  Prevost.  On  board  the  Niagara,  the 
signal  for  close  action  was  still  abroad,  while  the  small  ves- 
sels were  sternly  wearing  their  answering  flags.  The  Little 
Belt  and  Chippeway  were  endeavouring  to  escape  to  lee- 
ward, but  they  were  shortly  after  brought  to  by  the  Scorpion 
and  Trippe;  while  the  Lawrence  was  lying  astern  and  to 
windward,  with  the  American  colours  again  flying.  The  bat- 
tle had  commenced  about  noon,  and  it  terminated  at  3,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  shots  fired  at  the  two  vessels  that 
attempted  to  escape,  which  were  not  overtaken  until  an 
hour  later. 

In  this  decisive  action,  the  two  squadrons  suffered  in 
nearly  an  equal  degree,  so  far  as  their  people  were  concern- 
ed ;  the  manner  in  which  the  Lawrence  was  cut  up,  being 
almost  without  an  example  in  naval  warfare.  It  is  under- 
stood that  when  Capt.  Perry  left  her,  she  had  but  one  gun 
on  her  starboard  side,  or  that  on  which  she  was  engaged, 
which  could  be  used,  and  that  gallant  officer  is  said  to  have 
aided  in  firing  it  in  person,  the  last  time  it  was  discharged. 


1TAVAL  HISTORY.  397 

\ 

Of  her  crew  22  were  killed,  and  61  were  wounded,  most  of 
the  latter  severely.'  When  Capt.  Perry  left  her,  taking 
with  him  four  of  his  people,  there  remained  on  board  but 
15  sound  men.  The  Niagara  had  2  killed,  and  25  wounded, 
or  about  one-fourth  of  all  at  quarters.  The  other  vessels 
suffered  relatively  less.  The  Caledonia,  Lieut.  Turner, 
though  carried  into  the  hottest  of  the  action,  and  entirely 
without  quarters,  had  3  men  wounded ;  the  Trippe,  Lieut. 
Holdup,*  which,  for  some  time,  was  quite  as  closely  en- 
gaged, and  was  equally  without  quarters,  had  2  men 
wounded;  the  Somers,  Mr.  Almy,  the  same;  the  Ariel, 
Lieut.  Packett,  had  1  one  killed  and  3  wounded ;  the  Scor- 
pion, Mr.  Champlin,  had  2  killed,  one  of  whom  was  a  mid- 
shipman ;  the  Tigress,  Lieut.  Conklin,  and  Porcupine,  Mr. 
Senatt,  had  no  one  hurt.  The  total  loss  of  the  squadron 
was  27  killed,  and  96  wounded,  or  altogether,  123  men;  of 
whom  12  were  quarter-deck  officers.  More  than  a  hun- 
dred men  were  unfit  for  duty,  among  the  different  vessels, 
previous  to  the  action,  cholera  morbus  and  dysentery  pre- 
vailing in  the  squadron.  Capt.  Perry  himself,  was  labouring 
under  debility,  from  a  recent  attack  of  the  lake  fever,  and 
could  hardly  be  said  to  be  in  a  proper  condition  for  service, 
when  he  met  the  enemy,  a  circumstance  that  greatly  en- 
hances the  estimate  of  his  personal  exertions,  on  this  memo- 
rable occasion.  Among  the  American  slain  were  Lieut. 
Brooks,  the  commanding  marine  officer,  and  Messrs.  Laub 
and  Clark,  midshipmen;  and  among  the  wounded,  Messrs. 
Yarnall  and  Forrest,  the  first  and  second  lieutenants  of  the 
Lawrence,  Mr.  Taylor,  her  master,  and  Messrs.  Swartwout 
and  Claxton,  two  of  her  midshipmen.  Mr.  Edwards,  second 
lieutenant  of  the  Niagara,  and  Mr.  Cummings,  one  of  her 
midshipmen,  were  also  wounded. 

For  two  hours,  the  weight  of  the  enemy's  fire  had  been 

*  Now  Capt.  Holdup  Stevens. 


398  XAVAL  HISTORY. 

thrown  into  the  Lawrence;  and  the  water  being  perfectly 
smooth,  his  long  guns  had  committed  great  havoc,  before 
the  carronades  of  the  American  vessels  could  be  made 
available.  For  much  of  this  period,  it  is  believed  that 
the  efforts  of  the  enemy  were  little  diverted,  except  by  the 
fire  of  the  two  leading  schooners,  a  gun  of  one  of  which  (the 
Ariel,)  had  early  bursted,  the  two  long  guns  of  the  brigs, 
and  the  two  long  guns  of  the  Caledonia.  Although  the 
enemy  undoubtedly  suffered  by  this  fire,  it  was  not  directed 
at  a  single  object,  as  was  the  case  with  that  of  the  English, 
who  appeared  to  think,  that  by  destroying  the  American 
commanding  vessel,  they  would  conquer.  It  is  true,  that  the 
carronades  were  used  on  both  sides,  at  an  earlier  stage  of 
the  action  than  that  mentioned,  but  there  is  good  reason  for 
thinking  that  they  did  but  little  execution  for  the  first  hour. 
When  they  did  tell,  the  Lawrence,  the  vessel  nearest  to  the 
enemy,  if  the  Caledonia  be  excepted,  necessarily  became 
their  object,  and,  by  this  time,  the  efficiency  of  her  battery 
was  much  lessened.  As  a  consequence  of  these  peculiar 
circumstances,  her  starboard  bulwarks  were  nearly  beaten 
in;  and  even  her  larboard  were  greatly  injured,  many  of 
the  enemy's  heavy  shot  passing  through  both  sides ;  while 
every  gun  was  finally  disabled  in  the  batteries  fought. 
Although  much  has  been  justly  said  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  Bon  Homme  Richard  and  the  Essex  were  injured, 
neither  of  these  ships  suffered,  relatively,  in  a  degree  pro- 
portioned to  the  Lawrence.  Distinguished  as  were  the  two 
former  vessels,  for  the  indomitable  resolution  with  which 
they  withstood  the  destructive  fire  directed  against  them, 
it  did  not  surpass  that  manifested  on  board  the  Lawrence  ; 
and  it  ought  to  be  mentioned,  that  throughout  the  whole  of 
this  trying  day,  her  people,  who  had  been  so  short  a  time 
acting  together,  manifested  a  steadiness  and  discipline  wor- 
thy of  veterans. 

Although  the  Niagara  suffered  in  a  much  less  degree,  27 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  399 

men  killed  and  wounded,  in  a  ship's  company  that  mustered 
little  more  than  100  souls  at  quarters,  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances, would  be  thought  a  large  proportion.  Neither 
the  Niagara  nor  any  of  the  smaller  vessels  were  injured  in 
an  unusual  manner  in  their  hulls,  spars,  and  sails,  the  enemy 
having  expended  so  much  of  his  efforts  against  the  Law- 
rence, and  being  so  soon  silenced  when  that  brig  and 
gun-vessels  got  their  raking  positions,  at  the  close  of  the 
conflict. 

The  injuries  sustained  by  the  English  were  more  divided, 
but  were  necessarily  great.  According  to  the  official  report 
of  Capt.  Barclay,  his  vessels  lost  41  killed,  and  94  wounded, 
making  a  total  of  135,  including  twelve  officers,  the  precise 
number  lost  by  the  Americans.  No  report  has  been  pub- 
lished, in  which  the  loss  of  the  respective  vessels  was  given, 
but  the  Detroit  had  her  first  lieutenant  killed,  and  her  com- 
mander, Capt.  Barclay,  with  her  purser  wounded.  Capt. 
Finnis,  of  the  Queen  Charlotte  was  also  slain,  and  her  first 
lieutenant  was  wounded.  The  commanding  officer  and 
first  lieutenant  of  the  Lady  Prevost  were  among  the  wound- 
ed, as  were  the  commanding  officers  of  the  Hunter  and 
Chippeway.  All  of  their  vessels  were  a  good  deal  in- 
jured in  their  sails  and  hulls;  the  Queen  Charlotte  suffering 
most  in  proportion.  Both  the  Detroit  and  Queen  Charlotte, 
however,  rolled  the  masts  out  of  them,  at  anchor  at  Put-in 
Bay,  in  a  gale  of  wind,  two  days  after  the  action. 

It  is  not  easy  to  make  a  just  comparison  between  the 
forces  of  the  hostile  squadrons,  on  this  occasion.  Under 
some  circumstances  the  Americans  would  have  been  ma- 
terially superior,  while  in  others  the  enemy  might  pos- 
sess the  advantage  in  perhaps  an  equal  degree.  In  those 
under  which  the  action  was  actually  fought,  the  peculiar  ad- 
vantages and  disadvantages  were  nearly  equalized,  the  light- 
ness of  the  wind,  preventing  either  of  the  two  largest  of  the 
American  vessels  from  profiting  by  their  peculiar  mode  of 


400  KAVAL  BISTORT. 

efficiency,  until  quite  near  the  close  of  the  engagement,  and 
particularly  favouring  the  armament  of  the  Detroit;  while 
the  smoothness  of  the  water  rendered  the  light  vessels  of 
the  Americans  very  destructive,  as  soon  as  they  could  be 
got  within  a  proper  range.  The  Detroit  has  been  repre- 
sented, on  good  authority,  to  be  both  a  heavier  and  stron- 
ger ship,  than  either  of  the  American  brigs,  and  the  Queen 
Charlotte  proved  to  be  a  much  finer  vessel  than  had  been 
expected ;  while  the  Lady  Prevost  was  found  to  be  a  large, 
warlike  schooner.  It  was,  perhaps,  unfortunate  for  the 
enemy,  that  the  armaments  of  these  two  vessels  were  not 
available  under  the  circumstances  which  rendered  the  De- 
troit so  efficient,  as  it  destroyed  the  unity  of  their  efforts. 
In  short,  the  battle,  for  near  half  its  duration,  appears  to  have 
been  fought,  so  far  as  efficiency  was  concerned,  by  the  long 
guns  of  the  two  squadrons.  This  was  particularly  favour- 
ing the  Detroit  and  the  American  gun-vessels,  while  the 
latter  fought  under  the  advantage  of  smooth  water,  and  the 
disadvantage  of  having  no  quarters.  The  sides  of  the  De- 
troit, which  were  unusually  stout,  were  filled  with  shot  that 
did  not  penetrate.* 

In  the  number  of  men  at  quarters,  there  could  have  been 
no  great  disparity  in  the  two  squadrons.  Mr.  Yarnall, 
the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Lawrence,  testified  before  a  court 
of  inquiry,  in  1815,  that  the  brig  to  which  he  belonged  had 
but  "  131  men  and  boys,  of  every  description"  on  board 
her,  and  that  of  these  but  103  were  fit  for  duty  in  the  ac- 
tion. The  Niagara  was  nearly  in  the  same  state.  A  part 
of  the  crews  of  all  the  vessels  belonged  to  the  militia.  In- 

*  The  larboard  side  of  the  Detroit  is  stated  to  have  had  so  many  shot 
sticking  in  it,  and  so  many  mere  indentations,  that  doubts  have  been  sug- 
gested as  to  the  quality  of  the  American  powder.  It  is  probable,  how- 
ever, the  circumstance  arose  from  the  distance,  which,  for  a  long  time, 
was  not  within  fair  carronade  range,  especially  with  grape,  or  canister, 
voer  round  shot. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  401 

deed,  without  a  large  proportion  of  volunteers  from  the 
army,  the  battle  could  not  ,have  been  fought.  The  British 
were  no  better  off,  having  a  considerable  proportion  of  sol- 
diers on  board  their  vessels,  though  men  of  that  description 
were  probably  as  efficient  in  smooth  water,  and  under  the 
actual  circumstances,  as  ordinary  sailors.  Stress  was  laid  at 
the  time,  on  the  fact  that  a  portion  of  the  British  crews  were 
provincials,  but  the  history  of  this  continent  is  filled  with 
instances  in  which  men  of  their  character  have  gained 
battles,  that  went  to  increase  the  renown  of  the  mother 
country,  without  obtaining  any  credit  for  it.  The  hardy 
frontier  men  of  the  American  lakes,  are  as  able  to  endure 
fatigue,  as  ready  to  engage,  and  as  constant  in  battle,  as  the 
seamen  of  any  marine  in  the  world.  All  that  they  require 
is  good  leaders,  and  these  the  English  appear  to  have  pos- 
sessed in  Capt.  Barclay  and  his  assistants. 

Capt.  Perry,  iff  his  report  of  the  action,  eulogized  the  con- 
duct of  his  second  in  command,  Capt.  Elliott,  of  Mr.  Turner, 
who  commanded  the  Caledonia,  and  of  the  officers  of  his 
own  vessel;  He  also  commended  the  officers  of  the  Niagara, 
Mr.  Packett  of  the  Ariel,  and  Mr.  Champlin  of  the  Scorpion. 
It  is  now  believed  that  th'e  omission  of  the  names  of  the 
commanders  of  the  gun-vessels  astern,  was  accidental.  It 
would  seem  that  these  vessels,  in  general,  were  conducted 
with  great1  gallantry.  Towards  the  close  of  the  action,  in- 
deed, the  Caledonia,  and  some  of  the  gun-vessels  would  ap- 
pear to  have  been  handled  with  a  boldness,  considering 
their  total  want  of  quarters,  bordering  on  temerity.  They 
are  known  to  have  been  within  hail  of  the  enemy,  at  the 
moment  he  struck,  and  to  have  been  hailed  by  him.  The 
grape  and  canister  thrown  by  the  Niagara  and  the  schoon- 
ers, during  the  last  ten  minutes  of  the  battle,  and  which  . 
missed  the  enemy,  rattled  through  the  spars  of  the  friendly 
vessels  that  lay  opposite  to  each  other,  raking  the  English 
ahead  and  astern. 

VOL.  II.— 34 


402  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Capt.  Perry  was  criticised,  at  the  time,  for  the  manner  in 
which  he  had  brought  his  squadron  into  action,  it  being 
thought  he  should  have  waited  until  his  line  was  more  com- 
pactly formed,  and  his  small  vessels  could  have  closed.  It  has 
been  said,  that  "an  officer  seldom  went  into  action  worse,  or 
got  out  of  it  better."  Truth  is  too  often  made  the  sacrifice 
of  antithesis.  The  mode  of  attack  appears  to  have  been 
deemed  by  the  enemy  judicious,  an  opinion  that  speaks  in  its 
favour.  The  lightness  of  the  wind,  in  edging  down,  was  the 
only  circumstance  that  was  particularly  adverse  to  the 
American  vessels,  but  its  total  failure  could  not  have  been 
foreseen.  The  shortness  of  the  distances  on  the  lake  ren- 
dered escape  so  easy,  when  an  officer  was  disposed  to  avoid 
a  battle,  that  no  commander,  who  desired  an  action,  would 
have  been  pardonable  for  permitting  a  delay  on  such  a 
plea.  The  line  of  battle  was  highly  judicious,  the  manner 
in  which  the  Lawrence  was  supported  by  the  Ariel  and 
Scorpion  being  simple  and  ingenious.  By  steering  for  the 
head  of  the  enemy's  line,  the  latter  was  prevented  from 
gaining  the  wind  by  tacking,  and  when  Capt.  Elliott  imi- 
tated this  mano3uvre  in  the  Niagara,  the  American  squadron 
had  a  very  commanding  position,  of  which  Capt.  Perry 
promptly  availed  himself.  In  a  word,  the  American  com- 
mander appears  to  have  laid  his  plan  with  skill  and  judg- 
ment, and,  in  all  in  which  it  was  frustrated,  it  would  seem 
to  have  been  the  effect  of  accident.  There  has  never  been 
but  one  opinion  of  the  manner  in  which  he  redeemed  his 
error,  even  admitting  that  a  fault  was  made  at  the  outset, 
the  united  movements  of  the  Niagara  and  of  the  small  ves- 
sels, at  the  close  of  the  action,  having  been  as  judicious  as 
they  were  gallant  and  decisive.  The  personal  deportment 
of  Capt.  Perry,  throughout  the  day,  was  worthy  of  all 
praise.*  He  did  not  quit  his  own  vessel  when  she  became 

*  Popular  opinion,  which  is  too  apt  to  confound  distinctions  in  such 
matters,  usually  attaches  the  idea  of  more  gallantry  to  the  mere  act  of 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  403 

useless,  to  retire  from  the  battle,  but  to  gain  it;  an  end  that 
was  fully  obtained,  and  which  resulted  in  a  triumph. 

The  British  vessels  appear  to  have  been  gallantly  fought, 
and  were  surrendered  only  when  the  battle  was  hopelessly 
lost.  The  fall  of  their  different  commanders  was  materially 
against  them,  though  it  is  not  probable  the  day  could  have 
been  recovered  after  the  Niagara  gained  the  head  of  their 
line  and  the  gun-vessels  had  closed.  If  the  enemy  made  an 
error,  it  was  in  not  tacking  when  he  attempted  to  ware,  but 
it  is  quite  probable  that  the  condition  of  his  vessels  did  not 
admit  of  the  former  manoeuvre.  There  was  an  instant 
when  the  enemy  believed  himself  the  conqueror,  and  a  few 
minutes  even,  when  the  Americans  doubted,  though  they 
never  despaired;  but  a  moment  sufficed  to  change  these 
feelings,  teaching  the  successful  the  fickleness  of  fortune, 
and  admonishing  the  depressed  of  the  virtue  of  perse- 
verance.t 

passing  in  a  boat  from  one  vessel  to  another,  during1  the  action,  than  in 
fighting-  on  a  vessel's  deck.  This  was  the  least  of  Perry's  merits.  Capt. 
Elliott  was  much  longer  in  the  same  b6at,  and  passed  nearly  through  the 
whole  line  twice;  and  Mr.  M'Grath  had  left  the  Niagara  for  one  of  the  other 
vessels,  in  quest  of  shot,  before  Capt.  Perry  quitted  the  Lawrence.  A 
boat,  also,  passed  twice,  if  not  three  times,  from  the  Caledonia  to  the 
Trippe  in  the  height  of  the  engagement,  and  others,  quite  likely,  were 
sent  from  vessel  to  vessel.-  Capt.  Perry's  merit  was  an  indomitable 
resolution  not  to  be  conquered,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  sought  new 
modes  of  victory,  when  the  old  ones  failed  him.  The  position  taken  by 
the  Niagara  at  the  close  of  the  affair,  the  fact,  that  he  sought  the  best 
means  of  repairing  his  loss,  and  the  motive  with  which  he  passed  from  ves- 
sel to  vessel,  constitute  his  claims  to  admiration.  There  was,  no  doubt,  a 
personal  risk,  in  all  the  boats,  but  there  was  personal  risk  every  where, 
on  such  an  occasion. 

•j-  When  the  Detroit  was  taken  possession  of,  the  boarding  officer  went 
into  the  cabin,  where  he  found  Capt.  Barclay,  suffering  under  his  wound, 
but  still  flushed  and  excited.  "  You  are  sent  for  my  sword,  Sir  ?"  he  cried. 
"No  Sir,  I  have  come  to  take  possession  of  the  ship." — "Well,  Sir,"  con- 
tinued (/apt.  Barclay,  "I  would  not  have  given  six-pence  for  your  squad- 
ron when  I  left  the  deck!" 


404  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

For  his  conduct  in  this  battle,  Capt.  Perry  received  a 
gold  medal  from  Congress.  Capt.  Elliott  also  received  a 
gold  medal.  Rewards  were  bestowed  on  the  officers  and 
men  generally,  and  the  nation  has  long  considered  this 
action  one  of  its  proudest  achievements  on  the  water. 

The  results  of  the  victory  were  instantaneous  and  of 
high  importance.  The  four  smallest  of  the  prizes  were 
fitted  as  transports,  and,  the  Lawrence  excepted,  the  Amer- 
ican squadron  was  employed  in  the  same  duty.  The  En- 
glish had  evacuated  Detroit,  and  with  it  Michigan,  and  on 
the  23d  of  September,  the  squadron  conveyed  a  body  of 
1200  men  to  the  vicinity  of  Maiden,  in  Upper  Canada,  of 
•which  place  they  took  possession ;  and  on  the  27th,  Capt. 
Perry  ascended  to  Detroit  in  the  Ariel,  and  reoccupied  that 
town,  in  conjunction  with  the  army.  A  day  or  two  later,  Capt. 
Elliott,  with  the  Niagara,  Lady  Prevost,  Scorpion  and  Ti- 
gress, went  into  Lake  St.  Clair,  to  jcut  off  the  enemy's  bag- 
gage. On  the  2d  of  October,  a  part  of  the  vessels  assembled 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Thames,  with  stores  for  the  army,  and, 
as  the  latter  advanced,  Capt.  Elliott  ascended  the  stream, 
with  the  Scorpion,  Porcupine  and  Tigress,  until  he  reached 
a  point  where  the  banks  of  the  river«rendered  it  too  hazard- 
ous, by  exposing  the  vessels  to  the  fire  of  the  Indians.  The 
battle  of  the  Moravian  Towns  was  fought  on  the  5th  of  the 
same  month,  when  the  savages  received  a  severe  rebuke, 
and  nearly  the  whole  of  the  right  wing  of  the  British  army 
in  the  Canadas,  laid  down  their  arms  on  the  field,  under  a 
charge  of  the  American  mounted  volunteers.  After  this 
success,  which  placed  most  of  the  upper  part  of  the  pro- 
vince in  the  hands  of  the  conquerors,  the  vessels  were  em- 
ployed in  bringing  away  the  ammunition  and  other  cap- 
tured stores.  Oct  18th,  Gen.  Harrison  and  Capt.  Perry,  the 
latter  of  whom  had  been  present  at  the  battle  on  shore, 
issued  a  joint  proclamation,  for  the  better  government  of  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  405 

conquered   territory,  assuring  to  the  people  their  ancient 
laws  and  usages,  and  the  rights  of  property. 

On  the  23d  of  October,  the  squadron  transported  the  army 
of  Gen.  Harrison  to  Buffalo,  and  on  the  25th,  Capt.  Perry 
resigned  the  command  of  the  upper  lakes  to  Capt.  Elliott, 
repairing  himself  to  the  sea-board.  November  29th,  this 
gallant  and  successful  officer  received  the  commission  of  a 
captain,  which  was  dated  on  the  day  of  the  victory,  and 
soon  after  he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Java  44, 
a  new  frigate,  then  fitting  for  sea  at  Baltimore.* 

*  There  is  a  letter  on  file  in  the  Navy  Department,  in  which,  Capt. 
Perry,  who  had  only  been  a  commander  about  a  year,  expresses  some 
doubts  of  the  propriety  of  accepting  this  rank  over  the  heads  of  his  seniors, 
and  his  readiness  to  yield  to  their  claims. 


34* 


406  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  winter  of  1813-14  was  passed  at  Sackett's  Harbour 
and  Kingston,  in  building  vessels  for  the  ensuing  summer, 
and  in  vigilant  watchfulness,  lest  the  opposing  force  might 
attempt  to  obtain  the  command  of  the  lake  by  a  coup  de 
main,  struck  at  the  vessels  while  on  the  stocks.  Kingston 
had  been  made  very  strong,  by  means  of  works,  while  the 
fortifications  at  the  Harbour  were  of  little  moment.  As  the 
lake  was  frozen  from  one  place  to  the  other,  and  sleighs 
could  pass  in  a  few  hours,  the  Americans  were  kept  con- 
stantly on  the  alert  to  guard  against  a  surprise.  The  dispo- 
sitions of  Com.  Chauncey,  for  this  purpose,  were  of  the  most 
judicious  nature;  and  they  so  far  commanded  the  respect  of 
the  enemy  that,  though  bent  on  the  enterprise,  he  never  pre- 
sumed to  hazard  the  attempt. 

In  February  three  vessels  were  laid  down  at  the  Har- 
bour, a  frigate  of  50  guns,  and  two  large  brigs,  pierced  for 
22  guns  each.  As  the  English  were  known  to  be  building 
extensively,  the  timber  was  also  got  out  for  a  second  frigate. 
Com.  Chauncey  had  been  absent  at  the  seat  of  government, 
and  it  was  near  the  end  of  the  month  when  he  returned  to 
the  Harbour,  where  he  found  that  Capt.  Crane,  his  second 
in  command,  and  Mr.  Eckford,  the  builder,  had  been  very 
active  during  his  absence.  Early  in  March  many  deserters 
came  in,  and  they  agreed  in  stating  that  the  largest  of  the 
enemy's  new  ships,  which  had  been  laid  down  the  previous 
autumn,  was  caulked  and  decked,  and  that  she  was  pierced 
for  60  guns.  A  third  ship  was  also  said  to  be  in  prepara- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  407 

tion.  In  consequence  of  this  intelligence,  the  size  of  the  first 
American  frigate  was  increased  materially.  March  26th, 
the  important  information  was  obtained  that  the  enemy  had 
actually  laid  down  a  two  decked  vessel  of  unusual  dimen- 
sions. Thus  did  those  inland  waters,  on  which",  until  quite 
lately,  nothing  had  ever  floated  larger  than  a  sloop  of  war, 
bid  fair  to  witness  the  evolutions  of  fleets  ! 

During  the  whole  of  this  winter,  the  sickness  at  the  Har- 
bour was  of  the  gravest  character.  For  five  months  there 
was  never  less  than  half  of  the  crew  of  the  Madison  on  the 
sick  list,  and  she  actually  buried  about  one  fifth  of  her 
people. 

On  the  7th  of  April  one  of  the  new  brigs  was  launched, 
and  was  called  the  Jefferson.  Still  the  guns,  which  had  left 
New  York  two  months  previously,  had  not  even  reached 
Albany.  The  other  brig  was  launched  on  the  10th,  and  was 
called  the  Jones.  Not  a  man  or  gun,  however,  had  yet  ar- 
rived for  either  vessel.  April  the  llth,  the  enemy  was  as- 
certained to  be  in  the  stream,  with  all  his  vessels  of  the  pre- 
vious year,  ready  to  go  out,  and  on  the  14th,  he  put  his  two 
frigates  into  the  water.  The  Lady  of  the  Lake  was  sent  out 
to  watch  the  motions  of  the  English,  as  soon  as  the  state  of 
the  ice  permitted.  About  the  close  of  this  month,  the 
operations  on  Ontario  having  become  so  important,  and  the 
distances  being  so  great,  Com.  Chauncey  was  relieved  from 
the  command  of  the  upper  lakes,  Capt.  Sinclair,  late  of  the 
Pike,  being  named  his  successor.  At  the  same  time,  Capt.  El- 
liott was  ordered  to  Ontario,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Sylph, 
Capt.  Woolsey  being  transferred  to  the  Jones.  The  arma- 
ment of  the  former  vessel,  which  -had  proved  so  inefficient 
the  previous  summer,  was  also  altered  to  16  twenty-four 
pound  carronades,  in  regular  broadside,  and  she  was  rigged 
into  a  brig. 

April  25th,  a  guard  boat,  under  the  command  of  Lieut. 
Dudley,  detected  three  boats  in  the  offing,  and  immediately 


408  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

fired  into  them.  The  strangers  did  not  return  the  fire,  but 
pulled  swiftly  away.  Obtaining  a  reinforcement,  Mr.  Dud- 
ley gave  chase,  but  could  not  again  fall  in  with  the  suspi- 
cious party.  The  next  day  there  was  a  close  search,  and 
at  the  spot  where  the  strangers  received  the  fire  of  the 
guard-boat,  six  barrels  of  gun-powder  were  found  in  the 
lake,  slung  in  such  a  manner,  that  one  man  might  carry  two 
at  a  time,  across  his  shoulders.  They  had  fuse  holes,  and 
were,  no  doubt,  intended  to  blow  up- the  frigate.  Had  the 
adventurers  got  into  the  ship-yard,  they  must  have  been 
foiled,  as  a  lieutenant,  two  midshipmen,  and  ten  men,  were 
every  night  on  watch,  under  the  ship.  The. Madison  was 
moored  so  as, to  rake  beneath  her  bottom,  with  her  guns 
loaded  with  musket  balls.  There  were  also  double  lines  of 
sentinels  without,  and  booms  in  the  water. 

About  this  time,  when  so  much  depended  on  the  exer- 
tions of  the  builders,  one  of  the  most  respectable  of  the 
shipwrights,  through  some  misunderstanding,  was  killed  by 
a  sentinel,  and  all  the  carpenters  on  the  station,  who  were 
entirely  masters  of  their  own  acts,  instantly  struck  work. 
The  most  disastrous  consequences,  for  a  short  time,  ap- 
peared inevitable,  but  owing  to,  the  energy  of  Mr.  Eckford, 
sustained  by  the  influence  of  the  commodore,  the  feelings  of 
these  men  were  soothed,  and  they  returned  to  their  labour. 

The  command  of  the  lake  was  now  thought  so  important, 
by  both  belligerents,  that  many  ships  were  laid  up  on  the 
ocean,  in  order  to  transfer  their  officers  and  crews  to  this 
service;  and, on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  twenty-five  per 
cent,  was  added  to  the  pay  of  all  employed  on  it.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  the  enemy  made  some  similar  provision. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  the  American  frigate  was  launched, 
and  she  was  called  the  Superior.  Another  of  less  size,  was 
immediately  laid  down  on  her  blocks.  The  guns  began  to 
arrive  at  the  Harbour  about  the  beginning  of  May,  though 
the  heaviest  were  still  finding  their  way  through  the  imper- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  409 

feet  navigation  of  the  Mohawk  and  Wood  Creek,  towards 
Oswego.  On  the  4th,  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  Lieut.  Gregory, 
saw  six  sail  of  the  enemy  coming  out  of  Kingston,  about 
dusk,  steering  towards  Amherst  Bay;  and  on  the  5th,  the 
latter  appeared"  off  Oswego,  with  seven  sail.  The  greatest 
exertions  were  now  made  to  get  the  Pike,  Madison,  Jeffer- 
son, Sylph,  and  Oneida,  ready  to  follow  him,  these  being 
all  the  vessels  that  had  their  armaments,  the  small  schoon- 
ers being  now  pretty  generally  abandoned  as  cruisers,  on  ac- 
count of  their  qualities,  and  converted  into  transports.  But 
a  report  was  received  from  Capt.  Woolsey,  then  on  duty  at 
Oswego,  that  one  of  the  new  frigates  was  certainly  in  the 
enemy's  squadron,  and  Mr.  Gregory  brought  in  informa- 
tion that  he  had  seen  the  other  off  the  Ducks  the  same  day, 
•when  Com.  Chauncey  abandoned  the  intention  to  go  out, 
the  great  superiority  of  the  English  putting  a  battle  out  of 
the  question. 

The  active  cruising  force  under  Sir  James  Yeo,  consisted 
of  the  Prince  Regent  58,  Capt.  O'Conner,  the  flag  ship, 
armed  with  long  heavy  guns,  sixty-eight  and  thirty-twa- 
pound  carronades,  and  containing  near  500  men;  the  Prin- 
ncess  Charlotte  42,  Capt.  Mulcaster,  having  guns  nearly 
or  quite  as  heavy,  and  between  300  and  400  men  ;  the  Mon- 
treal, (late  Wolfe,)  Capt.  Downie;  the  Niagara,  (late  Royal 
George,)  Capt.  Popham  ;  the  Charwell,  (late  Moira,)  Lieut. 
Dobbs ;  Magnet,  (late  Sidney  Smith ;)  the  Star,  (late  Mel- 
ville,) Capt.  Clover;  and  the  Netley,  (late  Beresford,)  Lieut. 
Owens.  It  was  evident  that  nothing  less  than  very  heavy 
frigates  could  lie  against  the  largest  of  these  vessels. 

Capt.  Woolsey  had  been  sent  to  Oswego,  to  transport  to 
the  Harbour  the  heavy  guns,  cables,  &c.,  of  the  two  new 
frigates,  most  of  which  had  reached  the  falls,  twelve  miles 
above  the  town,  where  they  were  kept  for  the  sake  of  secu- 
rity, until  the  schooners  could  be  loaded,  and  despatched 
singly.  The  Growler  was  in  the  river  with  that  object, 


410  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

when  Sir  James  Yeo,  as  mentioned,  appeared  in  the  offing. 
He  was  about  to  make  a  descent,  with  a  body  of  troops,  on 
the  5th,  but  the  weather  induced  him  to  defer  the  enter- 
prise. On  this  occasion,  there  was  some  firing,  and  the 
enemy  abandoned  an  empty  boat  or  two.  The  succeeding 
day,  however,  every  thing  being  favourable,  the  original 
design  was  resumed. 

Oswego  was   then  a  village  containing  less   than  500 
souls,  and  was  without  any  regular  fortifications.  There  had 
been  a  fort  of  some  size,  however,  when  the  colonies  be- 
longed to  the  English,  and  the  ruins  of  this  work  stood  on 
an  elevated  plain,  at  the  point  of  land  on  the  side  of  the 
river  opposite  to  the  village.     The  works  were  tolerably 
large,  but   had   never  been   strong.     They  were   merely 
mounds  of  earth,  with  bastions  of  the  same  material,  dry 
ditches  of  no  great  depth,  a  natural  glacis,  pickets,  ram- 
parts, and  a  few  insignificant  outworks.      The  American 
government  permitted  them  to  go  to  decay,  and  as  there 
was  no  masonry,  the  ditch  had  nearly  filled,  the  ramparts 
had  worn  down,  the  pickets  and  palisadoes  had  decayed, 
and    even   the   gate  and   the   barracks   had   disappeared. 
After  the  declaration  of  war,  regiments  frequently  remain- 
ing at  this  point,  for  weeks  at  a  time,  on  their  way  to  the 
seat  of  hostilities,  the  spot  being  public  property,  and  offer- 
ing facilities  for  disciplining  troops,  it  had  been  selected  as 
their   temporary  abode.      Rude   barracks  had  been   con- 
structed, and  a  gate  was  built.     Some  other  trifling  repairs 
may  have  been  made,  an  imperfect  picketing  was  set  up, 
but  the  ditches  and  ramparts  might  still  have  been  crossed, 
at  many  places,  on  horseback.     In  short,  as  a  mere  field- 
work,  with  a  sufficiency  of  men,  this  titular  fort  might  have 
been  formidable ;  it  offered  many  facilities  for  cannonading 
in  the  offing,  and  commanded  the  river  in  a  degree  propor- 
tioned to  the  number  of  men  and  guns  that  might  happen 
to  be  in  it ;  but,  as  a  against  a  superior  force,  in  a  serious 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  411 

fight,  it  could  be  of  no  essential  service,  and  nothing  was 
easier  than  to  storm  it,  a  siege  being  quite  unnecessary. 
In  short,  it  was  no  longer  a  fort,  in  the  real  signification  of 
the  term,  nor  was  it  ranked  among  the  fortifications  of  the 
country,  even  the  right  of  property  having  been  transferred 
to  the  state  of  New  York. 

At  the  moment  when  Sir  James  Yeo  appeared,  a  batta- 
lion of  the  light  artillery,  consisting  of  290  effectives,  under 
Lieut.  Col.  Mitchell,  was  at  Fort  Oswego,  and  but  a  few 
militia  had  been  called  in,  the  adjacent  country,  for  a  dis- 
tance of  forty  miles  being  little  more  than  a  wilderness.  It 
would  trespass  on  another  branch  of  the  subject,  minutely 
to  relate  the  affair  that  followed.  Lieut.  Gen.  Drummond 
commanded  the  English  troops,  and  the  two  services  unit- 
ed, disembarked  with  a  force  that  has  been  differently  com- 
puted at  from  1000  to  1800  men.  The  ships  opened  a  heavy 
fire,  and  a  landing  was  effected.  Lieut.  Col.  Mitchell,  who 
had  less  than  400  men,  and  but  two  serviceable  heavy  guns, 
met  the  enemy  at  the  shore,  and  fought  him,  as  long  as  was 
at  all  prudent,  in  the  woods,  and  on  the  plain,  when  he  fell 
back  towards  the  falls,  as  a  retreat  into  the  fort  would  have 
ensured  his  capture.  Had  the  latter  been  in  repair,  less  than 
1000  men  could  not  have  prevented  it  from  being  stormed, 
on  account  of  its  size.  The  defence,  though  hopeless  from 
the  first,  was  very  spirited,  and  the  enemy  admitted  a  loss 
of  95  men,  though  it  was  thought  to  have  been  materially 
larger.  The  Americans  lost  6  killed,  38  wounded,  and  25 
missing,  or  69  in  all.  Lieut.  Pearce,  and  the  few  seamen 
present,  fell  into,  and  fought  bravely,  in  the  ranks  of  the 
soldiers.  The  Growler,  the  only  transport  in  port,  was 
sunk  as  soon  as  the  landing  was  effected. 

The  enemy  remained  two  days  at  Oswego,  where  they 
raised  the  Growler,  and  carried  her  off;  this  making  the 
third  time  that  vessel  had  been  taken  during  the  last  year. 
But  few  stores  were  found  in  the  village,  however,  the  or- 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


ders  of  Com.  Chauncey  having  required  that  they  should  be 
kept  at  the  falls,  until  vessels  were  ready  to  sail  with  them. 
On  the  whole,  the  English  derived  very  little  advantage 
from  this  descent,  and  the  Americans  suffered  scarcely  any 
injury,  besides  the  killed  and  wounded.  The  navy  lost  se- 
ven guns  in  the  Growler,  with  a  few  shot  and  a  little  rig- 
ging. On  the  part  of  the  enemy,  Capt.  Mulcaster,  of  the 
Princess  Charlotte,  an  officer  of  great  gallantry,  who  had 
landed  with  a  brigade  of  seamen,  was  badly  wounded.  The 
conduct  of  Lieut.  Col.  Mitchell  was  highly  approved,  and 
was  thought  to  have  been  marked  by  steadiness,  courage, 
and  conduct. 

Sir  James  Yeo  now  returned  to  Kingston,  landed  the 
troops,  and  on  the  19th,  he  came  out  and  chased  the  Lady 
of  the  Lake  into  the  Harbour,  off  which  place  he  appeared 
with  four  ships  and  three  brigs,  blockading  the  port,  for  the 
first  and  only  time  during  the  war.  At  this  moment,  many 
of  the  stores,  and  some  of  the  lighter  guns,  of  which  the 
direction  had  been  changed,  in  consequence  of  the  descent, 
were  coming  in  by  land,  though  the  heavy  guns  and  cables, 
still  remained  in  the  Oswego  river. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  reinforcements  of  officers  and 
men,  began  to  arrive  from  the  sea-board.  The  Macedo- 
nian had  been  laid  up  in  the  Thames,  and  Mr.  Rodgers,  her 
first  lieutenant,  with  her  crew  came  in  between  the  llth 
and  the  2 1st.  Capt.  Elliott  rejoined  the  station  on  the  12th, 
and  Capt.  Trenchard  on  the  15th.  The  Erie,  a  new  sloop 
of  war,  then  blockaded  at  Baltimore,  had  been  also  laid 
up,  and  her  commander,  Capt.  Ridgley,  with  his  people, 
arrived  some  time  before,  and  had  been  put  on  board  the 
Jefferson. 

^Notwithstanding  all  the  exertions  that  had  been  made  in 
building,  the  ships  were  useless  without  guns  and  cables, 
and  most  of  those  intended  for  the  two  frigates,  had  yet  to 
be  transported  to  the  Harbour  by  water,  their  weight  and  ; 


If  AVAL  HISTORY.  413 

the  state  of  the  roads  rendering  other  means  too  costly  and 
difficult.  Capt.  Woolsey,  who  was  still  entrusted  with  this 
duty,  caused  reports  to  be  circulated  that  the  heavy  articles 
were  to  be  sent  back  to  the  Oneida  lake,  and  when  time  had 
been  allowed  for  the  enemy  to  receive  this  information,  he 
run  the  guns  over  the  falls,  and  at  sunset,  on  the  28th  of 
May,  he  reached  Oswego  with  19  boats,  loaded  with  21 
long  thirty-two  pounders,  10  twenty-four  pounders,  3 
forty-two  pound  carronades,  and  10  cables.  The  look-outs 
having  reported  the  coast  clear,  the  brigade  of  boats  rowed 
out  of  the  river,  at  dusk,  and  after  passing  a  dark  and  rainy 
night  at  the  oars,  reached  ihe  mouth  of  Big  Salmon  River, 
at  sunrise  on  the  29th,  one  boat  having  unaccountably  dis- 
appeared. 

Capt.  Woolsey  was  accompanied  by  a  detachment  of  130 
riflemen,  under  Major  Appling,  and  at  the  Big  Salmon  he 
also  met  a  party  of  Oneida  Indians,  which  had  been 
directed  to  follow  on  the  shore.  The  brigade  now  pro- 
ceeded, entered  Big  Sandy  Creek,  and  ascended  about 
two  miles,  to  its  place  of  destination;  the  blockade  render- 
ing it  necessary  to  convey  the  supplies  by  land  the  remain- 
der of  the  distance. 

At  this  time,  the  English  squadron  lay  at  anchor,  a  few 
miles  from  the  Harbour,  and  the  missing  boat  had  gone 
ahead,  in  the  professed  hope  of  making  the  whole  distance 
by  water.  Seeing  the  English  ships,  either  by  mistake 
or  treachery  it  pulled  directly  for  them,  under  a  belief,  real 
or  pretended,  that  they  were  Americans.  It  is  thought, 
however,  that  the  people  in  the  boat  were  deceived. 

From  the  prisoners,  Sir  James  Yeo  learned  the  situation 
of  the  remainder  of  the  brigade.  He  had  three  gun-boats 
on  the  station,  and  Capt.  Popham  of  the  Montreal,  was  put 
into  one,  and  Capt.  Spilsbury  into  the  other,  having  three 
cutters  and  a  gig  in  company.  After  cruising  without 
success,  separately,  the  two  parties  joined,  and  having 
VOL.  II.— 35 


414  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

ascertained  that  the  brigade  had  entered  Sandy  Creek, 
they  followed  on  the  30th,  with  the  expectation  of  cap- 
turing it.  Major  Appling,  being  apprised  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  enemy,  placed  his  riflemen,  supported  by  the 
Indians,  in  ambush,  about  half  a  mile  below  the  place  where 
Capt.  Woolsey  was  discharging  the  stores.  The  enemy 
had  a  party  of  marines  on  board,  under  two  lieutenants  of 
that  corps.  These,  in  conjunction  with  a  body  of  seamen, 
were  landed,  and  the  gun-boats  approached,  throwing  grape 
and  canister  into  the  bushes,  with  a  view  to  feel  their  way. 
Major  Appling  permitted  the  enemy  to  get  quite  near,  when 
he  threw  in  a  close  discharge  of  the  rifle.  The  resistance 
was  trifling,  and  in  ten  minutes  the  whole  of  the  English 
demanded  quarter.  The  enemy  had  a  midshipman  and  14 
seamen  and  marines  killed,  and  2  lieutenants  of  marines, 
with  26  common  men  wounded.  In  addition  to  the  wound- 
ed, there  were  made  a  sufficient  number  of  prisoners  to 
raise  his  total  loss  to  186.  All  the  boats  were  taken,  the 
three  gun-vessels  carrying  68,  24,  18  and  12  pound  car- 
ronades.  Among  the  prisoners  were  Capts.  Popham  and 
Spilsbury,  4  sea  lieutenants,  and  2  midshipmen.  Although 
there  was  a  considerable  force,  a  short  distance  above, 
without  the  range  of  the  rifle,  the  command  of  Major  App- 
ling, which  effected  this  handsome  exploit,  was  scarcely 
equal  to  the  enemy  in  numbers,  and  yet  he  had  but  a  single 
man  wounded.  This  little  success  was  the  effect  of  a  sur- 
prise and  an  ambush. 

It  will  aid  in  giving  a  better  idea  of  the  condition  of  this 
frontier,  at  that  time,  as  well  as  in  proving  the  ardour  with 
which  the  duty  was  conducted,  if  we  state  that,  when  the 
stores  in  charge  of  Capt.  Woolsey  were  landed,  a  frigate's 
cable  was  carried  from  Sandy  Creek  to  the  Harbour,  a  dis- 
tance of  eight  miles,  on  the  shoulders  of  a  party  of  sailors. 

Most  of  the  Superior's  guns  having  now  arrived,  the 
enemy,  who  was  well  informed  of  all  that  passed  on  shore, 


KAVAL  HISTORY.  415 

raised  the  blockade  on  the  6th  of  June.  Sir  James  Yeo, 
who  had  lately  kept  two  brigs  cruising  between  Oswego 
and  the  Harbour,  joined  them  with  the  rest  of  his  squadron, 
and  they  all  disappeared  in  company,  steering  to  the  north- 
west. Two  days  later  the  last  of  the  guns  actually  reached 
Sackett's  Harbour.  The  frigate  which  had  been  laid  down 
on  the  blocks  of  the  Superior,  was  launched  on  the  llth  of 
June,  having  been  put  into  the  water  in  34  working  days, 
from  the  time  her  keel  was  laid.  She  was  named  the  Mo- 
hawk. Still  the  squadron  was  500  men  short  of  its  comple- 
ments, though  the  crew  of  the  Congress  38,  which  was  un- 
dergoing extensive  repairs,  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  had  been 
ordered  to  this  service.  About  the  middle  of  the  month 
the  latter  began  to  arrive.  The  enemy  also  continued  .to 
reinforce  both  his  army  and  his  marine,  200  boats  at  a 
time  having  been  observed  passing  up  the  St.  Lawrence. 

About  the  middle  of  this  month,  Com.  Chauncey  sent  Act. 
Lieut.  Gregory,  with  three  gigs,  into  the  St.  Lawrence, 
where  the  enemy  had  a  line  of  gun-boats,  to  cover  the  pas- 
sage of  his  supplies  and  reinforcements,  with  directions  to 
surprise  some  of  his  boats  loaded  with  stores,  and,  if  possible, 
to  destroy  them.  For  this  purpose  Mr.  Gregory  lay  in  am- 
bush on  one  of  the  islands,  but  was  discovered  by  the  look- 
outs of  the  enemy,  who  immediately  despatched  a  gun- 
boat in  chase.  Instead  of  retiring  before  this  force,  Mr. 
Gregory  determined  to  become  the  assailant,  and  he  dashed 
at  the  gun-boat,  carrying  her  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 
This  vessel  had  an  18  pound  carronade,  and  a  crew  of  18 
men.  While  proceeding  up  the  river  with  his  prize,  Mr. 
Gregory  was  chased  by  a  much  larger  boat,  mounting  2 
guns,  and  pulling  a  great  number  of  oars,  which  compelled 
him  to  scuttle  and  abandon  her.  On  this  occasion,  Mr. 
Gregory  was  accompanied  by  Messrs.  Vaughan  and  Dixon, 
two  gallant  mariners  of  the  lake,  and  he  brought  in  nearjy 
as  many  prisoners  as  he  had  men. 


416  If  AVAL  HISTORF. 

Ten  days  later,  Mr.  Gregory  was  sent  with  two  gigs, 
accompanied  as  before  by  Messrs.  Vaughan  and  Dixon,  to 
Nicholas  Island,  near  Presque  Isle,  to  intercept  some  trans- 
. ports,  failing  of  which  he  was  to  land  at  Presque  Isle,  where 
the  enemy  had  a  cruiser,  intended  to  mount  14  guns,  nearly 
ready  to  launch,  and  to  endeavour  to  destroy  her.  This 
duty,  after  running  much  risk,  and  suffering  greatly  from 
hunger,  was  effectually  performed  by  the  party,  which  was 
absent  near  a  week.  The  day  after  his  return  from  this 
expedition,  Mr.  Gregory  received  the  commission  of  a 
lieutenant,  that  had -been  conferred  on  him  for  the  hand- 
some manner  in  which  he  had  captured  the  gun-boat. 

Unfortunately,  at  this  period,  while  the  squadron  was 
fitting  for  the  lake,  and  so  much  remained  to  be  done  to 
render  it  efficient,  Com.  Chauncey,  who  was  subjected  to 
great  exhaustion  of  mind  and  body,  fell  ill  of  the  preva- 
lent fever,  and  for  the  entire  month  of  July,  was  confined  to 
his  bed.  This  was  at  the  critical  moment  when  General 
Brown  had  commenced  that  series  of  brilliant  battles  on  the 
Niagara,  which,  by  bringing  the  disciplined  troops  of  Amer- 
ica against  those  of  England,  established  the  high  reputation 
with  which  the  army,  after  all  its  early  reverses,  came  out 
of  the  war  of  1812.  Although  the  duty  at  the  Harbour 
proceeded,  it  necessarily  suffered  for  the  want  of  the  mind 
which  had  planned  it,  and  whose  resources  had  been  so 
amply  proved  to  be  equal  to  the  effort  of  creating  a  fleet  in 
a  forest. 

It  had  been  hoped  that  the  squadron  would  be  ready  to 
go  out  by  the  middle  of  July,  but  so  many  of  the  mechanics 
were  taken  ill,  also,  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  get  the 
Mohawk  ready  before  the  25th.  At  this  time,  Com.  Chaun- 
cey, rather  than  delay  the  departure  of  the  vessels,  was 
about  to  yield  the  command  temporarily,  to  the  officer  next 
in  rank,  but  being  convalescent,  and  a  change  of  crews 
having  become  indispensable,  on  account  of  the  wish  of  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY*.  417 

men  to  serve  under  their  proper  officers,  three  or  four  flays 
were  occupied  in  effecting  these  important  alterations.  On 
the  afternoon  of  the  31st  of  July,  the  commodore  was  car- 
ried on  board  the  Superior,  and  the  American  squadron 
sailed.  Its  force  consisted  of  the  Superior  62,  Lieut.  Elton, 
Com.  Chauncey;  Mohawk  42,  Capt.  Jones;  Pike  28,  Capt. 
Crane;  Madison  24,  Capt.  Trenchard ;  Jefferson  22,  Capt. 
Ridgely;  Jones  22,  Capt.  Woolsey;  Sylph  14,  Capt.  Elliott; 
Oneida  16,  Lieut.  Com.  Brown,  and  the  Lady  of  the  Lake, 
look-out  vessel — most  of  the  small  schooners  having  now 
been  abandoned,  as  cruisers  in  squadron.  There  is  no  ques- 
tion that  this  force,  which,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Oneida,  was  composed  of  efficient  vessels,  was  superior  to 
that  of  the  English,  who  were  striving  to  regain  the  ascen- 
dency, by  constructing,  as  fast  as  possible,  the  two  decker 
already  mentioned.  The  Americans,  who  had  momentarily 
exhausted  their  means,  under  the  disadvantages  of  bad 
roads,  sickly  mechanics,  and  their  great  distance  by  land 
from  their  supplies,  were  disposed  to  trust  to  the  chances  of 
the  season,  hoping  that  a  victory  might  prevent  the  neces- 
sity of  again  building;  for,  it  should  be  remembered,  in 
order  to  appreciate  the  efforts  of  the  two  belligerents,  that 
the  Americans,  besides  contending  with  the  effects  of  a 
country  just  cleared  of  its  timber,  an  evil  from  which  the 
enemy  was  exempt  at  Kingston,  had  to  build  even  the  town 
that  had  grown  up  at  the  Harbour,  in  order  to  supply  the 
common  necessaries  of  life.* 

Com.  Chauncey,  whose  health  rapidly  improved  in  the 
pure  air  of  the  lake,  appeared  off  the  Niagara,  now  by  the 
vicissitudes  of  war  again  in  the  possession  of  the  English, 
on  the  5th  of  August.  The  enemy's  squadron  was  sepa- 

*  It  is  said  that  one  of  the  greatest  wants  of  the  English  was  ship  tim- 
ber, the  age  of  Kingston,  and  the  practice  of  exporting  it  to  England, 
haying  nearly  stripped  the  north  shore.  On  the  other  hand,  one  of  the 
largest  of  the  American  vessels,  was  literally  laid  down  in  the  forest. 

35* 


418  NAVAL  HISTORT. 

,    .'  !*1 

rated  at  the  moment,  his  large  vessels  being  down  the  lake, 
while  many  of  his  small  cruisers  had  been  convoying,  or 
transporting  troops  and  stores  near  the  head.  As  the  Ameri- 
can vessels  approached,  they  intercepted  one  of  the  English 
brigs,  which  was  conveying  troops  from  York  to  Niagara, 
and  she  was  chased  ashore  about  two  leagues  to  the  west- 
ward of  Fort  George.  The  Sylph,  Capt.  Elliott,  was  or- 
dered to  run  in,  and  destroy  her,  but  just  as  the  former  was 
about  to  anchor,  the  enemy  set  fire  to  their  brig,  and  she 
soon  after  blew  up.  This  vessel  is  believed  to  have  been 
called  the  Charwell,  and  to  have  mounted  14  guns. 

The  enemy  having  two  cruising  brigs  and  a  schooner  in 
the  Niagara,  both  sides  of  which  river  were  now  in  his  pos- 
session by  the  capture  of  Fort  Niagara,  Com.  Chauncey 
left  the  Jefferson,  Sylph,  and  Oneida  to  watch  them,  under 
the  orders  of  Capt.  Ridgely  of  the  former  vessel,  and  look- 
ing into  York,  to  ascertain  if  any  portion  of  the  British 
force -was  there,  he  went  off  Kingston,  where  he  arrived 
on  the  9th.  One  of  the  English  ships  was  in  the  offing,  and 
was  chased  into  port  by  the  American  squadron,  as  it  ar- 
rived. The  next  day,  the  Jones,  Capt.  Woolsey,  was  sent 
to  cruise  between  Oswego  and  the  Harbour  ;  and  the  Con- 
quest, one  of  the  best  of  the  schooners,  which  had  been  kept 
armed  for  any  light  service  that  might  offer,  was  employed 
on  the  same  duty,  the  enemy  having  intercepted  some  flour 
that  was  passing,  by  means  of  boats. 

From  this  time,  until  the  month  of  October,  or  for  six 
weeks  uninterruptedly,  Com.  Chauncey  continued  a  close 
blockade  of  Sir  James  Yeo,  in  Kingston,  having  undisputed 
command  of  the  entire  lake.  With  a  view  to  tempt  the  En- 
glish to  come  out,  he  kept  only  four  vessels  in  the  offing,  and 
as  the  enemy  had  an  equal  number,  it  was  thought  the  pro- 
vocation might  induce  him  to  risk  a  battle.  Some  guns 
•were  also  sent  ashore,  with  a  view  to  bring  the  vessels  as 
near  as  possible  to  an  equality.  The  American  ships  were 


IT  AVAL  HISTORY.  419 

the  Superior  58,*  Mohawk  42,  Pike  28,  and  Madison  24; 
the  British,  the  Prince  Regent  58,  Princess  Charlotte  42, 
Wolfe  25,  and  Niagara  24.  There  was  also  a  large  schoon- 
er at  Kingston,  and  several  gun-boats  and  smaller  vessels. 
It  is  probable  that  there  was  a  trifling  superiority  on  the  part 
of  the  Americans,  notwithstanding,  for  in  a  conflict  between 
vessels  of  so  much  force,  the  smaller  craft  could  be  of  no 
great  moment,  but  it  was  such  a  superiority  as  the  enemy 
had  long  been  accustomed  to  disregard  ;  and  the  result 
showed  that  the  American  marine  commanded  his  respect 
to  a  degree  which  rendered  the  minutest  calculations  of 
force  necessary.  Once  or  twice,  the  brigs  joined  the  Ame- 
rican commodore,  in  quest  of  supplies,  but  they  were  always 
sent  away  again,  in  order  to  keep  but  four  ships  on  the  sta- 
tion. The  Sylph  was  ordered  ofFPresque  Isle,  to  intercept 
boats  passing  in-shore,  and  the  rest  of  the  vessels  were  kept 
on  the  south  coast,  between  the  Harbour  and  the  Niagara. 

In  the  course  of  the  month  of  August,  Maj.  Gen.  Izard 
wrote  to  Com.  Chauncey,  to  inquire  what  means  of  trans- 
portation he  could  afford  his  division,  the  former  being  or- 
dered to  march  from  Plattsburg  to  reinforce  the  army, 
on  the  Niagara.  In  his  answer,  the  latter  stated  that  he 
could  furnish  four  ships,  four  brigs,  and  seven  schooners, 
the  first  eight  mounting  from  14  to  58  guns;  and  the  latter 
acting  as  transports,  being  from  40  to  90  tons  burthen.  In 
a  few  days,  however,  he  should  have  at  his  command  15 
barges,  that  were  75  feet  long  each, ,  and  which  would 
mount  two  guns  a-piece,  having  been  built  expressly  to 
convey  troops  and  stores. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  the  blockading  ships  were  driven 
off  by  a  gale,  and  on  regaining  their  station  On  the  25th, 
the  enemy  could  not  be  seen  in  port.  Lieut.  Gregory,  with 
Mr.  Hart,  a  midshipman,  was  now  sent  in,  in  a  gig,  to  re- 
connoitre. While  on  this  duty,  Mr.  Gregory  landed  to  set 

*  Four  guns  having-  been  landed. 


420  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

fire  to  a  raft  of  picket-timber  that  he  accidentally  passed. 
This  deviation  from  the  direct  route,  brought  the  gig  so 
near  in-shore,  that  two  barges  of  the  enemy,  carrying  30 
men,  were  enabled  to  head  it,  as  it  doubled  a  point.  A 
chase,  and  a  sharp  fire  of  musketry  ensued,  Mr.  Gregory 
persevering  in  his  attempt  to  escape,  until  Mr.  Hart  was 
killed,  and  five  men  out  of  eight  were  wounded,  when  this 
enterprising  officer  was  obliged  to  surrender. 

September  5th,  the  four  ships  were  still  blockading 
Kingston ;  the  Jefferson  and  Jones  were  off  the  Niagara, 
under  Capt.  Ridgely ;  the  Sylph  and  Conquest  off  Presque 
Isle,  under  Capt.  Elliott ;  and  the  Oneida  was  dismantling 
at  the  Harbour,  the  armament  of  that  brig  being  put  into 
the  barges.  On  the  1 1th,  the  wind  came  from  the  north- 
ward, when  Com.  Chauncey  stood  in  towards  Kingston, 
and  brought-to,  just  without  the  drop  of  the  shot  from  the 
batteries,  and  the  ships  hoisted  their  ensigns,  as  a  challenge 
for  the  enemy  to  come  out.  The  English  sprung  their 
broadsides  to  bear,  set  their  colours,  but  did  not  accept  the 
defiance.  It  was  now  seen  that  the  two-decker  was  launch- 
ed, and  she  was  ascertained  to  be  very  large.  After  re- 
maining close  in,  for  a  considerable  time,  the  American 
ships  filled  and  gained  an  offing.* 

*  On  this  occasion,  the  hostile  vessels  were  so  near  each  other,  that,  by 
the  aid  of  a  glass,  an  American  prisoner,  then  on  board  the  Prince  Re- 
gent, distinctly  recognised  Commodore  Chauncey,  standing  in  the 
gang-way  of  the  Superior,  and  pointed  him  out  to  the  English  officers. 
There  is  no  question  that  the  latter  were  much  mortified  at  their  situa- 
tion, which  was  more  probably  the  result  of  rigid  instructions,  than  of 
any  prudence  on  their  part.  It  is  said,  on  good  authority,  that  some  of 
the  captains  who  were  then  on  board  the  Prince  Regent,  did  not  hesitate 
to  express  their  feelings,  affirming  it  was  a  new  thing  for  an  English 
squadron  to  be  blockaded,  by  a  force  but  little,  if  any  superior.  Sir 
James  Yeo,  who  probably  felt  the  painful  character  of  his  situation  as 
much  as  any  man  in  his  fleet,  on  hearing  these  remarks,  is  said  to  hare 
dashed  his  spy-glass  over  the  breech  of  a  gun,  and  to  have  retired  to  his 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  421 

The  next  day  it  came  on  to  blow,  and  the  squadron  was 
compelled  to  make  an  offing  for  safety.  The  gale  lasted 
until  the  15th,  when  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  joined,  to  say 
that  Gen.  Izard  had  reached  the  Harbour.  The  ships  now 

cabin.  Of  the  precise  force  of  the  two  squadrons  present,  it  is  not  easy 
to  speak.  The  Superior  was  pierced  for  64  guns,  had  originally  mounted 
62,  and  now  mounted  58,  the  actual  number  of  the  Prince  Regent. 
She  was  a  little  larger  than  the  English  ship  ;  perhaps  150  tons.  Between 
the  Princess  Charlotte  and  Mohawk,  there  was  not  much  difference 
in  force,  though  there  was  some  in  construction.  The  metal  of  the 
English  ship  is  said  to  have  been  the  heaviest.  The  Pike  was  a  little 
heavier  than  the  Montreal,  and  the  Madison  than  the  Niagara.  As  to 
men,  there  could  be  no  essential  difference,  though  it  was  in  the  power  of 
Sir  James  Yeo,  to  get  as  many  as  he  could  desire  from  the  army.  It  was 
known  in  the  squadron,  that  Com.  Chauncey  intended  to  disregard  alto- 
gether the  gun-boats  and  schooners,  did  they  choose  to  come  out.  It  has 
not  been  in  our  power  to  ascertain  the  metal  of  the  Prince  Regent,  her 
gun-deck  battery  having  been  represented  equally  as  thirty -twos,  and  as 
twenty-fours.  If  the  former,  the  difference  between  the  two  squadrons 
was  ideal,  rather  than  substantial. 

The  history  of  no  marine  probably  furnishes  an  instance  of  a  higher 
state  of  discipline  than  Com.  Chauncey  had  brought  his  squadron  up  to, 
during  this  summer.  Officers  of  experience  and  merit,  who  were  in  the 
fleet,  still  speak  of  it  with  pleasure,  as  an  exception  even  in  a  service 
remarkable  for  this  high  quality.  At  exercising  sails,  and  in  working 
ship,  the  method,  accuracy,  and  rapidity  of  the  crews,  have  been  likened 
to  the  drill  of  favourite  regiments  of  guards  in  Europe;  and  at  the  guns 
the  men  are  described  as  having  been  literally  terrible.  They  were  kept 
constantly  in  practice  with  targets,  handling  heavy  long  guns  like  mus- 
kets, and  pointing  them  like  rifles.  Discreet  observers  have  even  doubted 
whether  the  English  could  have  got  out,  had  they  attempted  it,  as  they 
must  have  advanced,  bows  on,  through  a  channel  less  than  a  mile  wide, 
for  it  is  believed  every  spar  would  have  been  taken  out  of  them,  before 
they  could  close.  The  exercise  by  which  this  high  condition  was  pro- 
duced, had  been  of  the  severest  kind.  The  men  had  commenced,  by 
being  kept  at  the  guns  an  hour,  in  violent  exertion,  when  it  was  found 
that  they  were  exhausted.  The  time  was  gradually  extended,  however, 
until  the  Superior's  people  have  been  known  to  come  out  of  an  exercise 
of  several  hours  continuance,  as  fresh  and  as  gay,  as  if  they  had  been  at 
sport. 


422  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

went  in,  for  the  first  time,  since  the  2d  of  August,  having 
kept  the  lake  45  days;  much  of  the  time  under  canvass.  On 
the  16th,  the  look-out  vessel  was  sent  to  order  in  the  differ- 
ent brigs.  The  Jefferson  and  Jones  arrived  on  the  17th, 
having  been  in  the  late  gale,  which  drove  them  to  the  head 
of  the  lake.  The  first  had  thrown  overboard  ten  guns,  and 
was  only  kept  off  the  shore,  by  carrying  sail,  and  by  the 
aid  of  the  under-tow.  A  tremendous  sea  running,  the  brig 
was  twice  on  her  beam  ends. 

The  division  of  Gen.  Izard  consisted  of  4000  men,  of 
whom  3000  embarked  on  the  19th,  but  another  gale  inter- 
vening, did  not  sail  until  the  21st.  This  force  was  landed 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Genesee,  on  the  22d.  As  soon  as  this 
duty  was  performed,  Com.  Chauncey-  went  off  Kingston 
again,  where  he  appeared  on  the  28th.  Two  of  the  enemy's 
ships  were  coming  out  under  a  press  of  sail,  most  proba- 
bly with  troops  to  reinforce  the  army  on  the  Niagara,  but 
were  driven  back.  The  29th,  the  wind  being  fair,  the 
squadron  looked  into  Kingston  again,  and  the  Lady  was 
sent  close  in,  when  it  was  found  that  the  large  ship,  which 
had  been  called  the  St.  Lawrence,  was  completely  rigged, 
but  had  no  sails  bent.  As  this  vessel  was  pierced  for  112 
guns,  and  was  intended  for  metal  in  proportion,  she  was 
more  than  equal  to  meeting  the  whole  American  force. 
On  the  5th  of  October,  the  Sylph  looked  in  again,  and 
found  her  sails  bent  and  top-gallant  yards  crossed,  when 
Com.  Chauncey  ran  over  to  the  Harbour,  where  he  an- 
chored on  the  7th,  and  prepared  to  receive  an  attack. 

For  some  days,  Sir  James  Yeo  was  confidently  expect- 
ed; and  Com.  Chauncey  moored  his  ships  outside  the 
point,. under  the  fort,  in  readiness  to  receive  him.  With  so 
little  skill,  however,  had  the  works  at  this  important  post 
been  planned,  that  there  was  no  point  where  more  than 
four  guns  at  a  time  could  be  brought  to  bear  on  the  enemy. 
This  evil  was  in  part  repaired,  and  a  reinforcement  of 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 

troops  shortly  after  arriving,  under  Maj.  Gen.  Brown,  all 
apprehensions  ceased  by  the  end  of  the  month. 

Sir  James  Yeo  sailed  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  with  four 
other  ships,  two  brjgs,  and  a  schooner,  on  the  15th  of  Oc- 
tober, and  he  continued  in  command  of  the  lake  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  season.  He  is  said  to  have  had  more  than 
1100  men  in  his  flag  ship;  and  it  was  understood  that  the 
enemy  had  become  so  wary,  that  a  captain  was  stationed 
on  each  deck.  Other  duly  probably  occupied  him,  for  no 
attempt  was  made  on  the  Harbour,  nor  did  the  enemy  even 
blockade  it ;  the  necessities  of  the  Niagara  frontier  calling 
his  attention  in  that  quarter. 

On  the  19th  of  November,  Mr.  M'Gowan,  a  midshipman, 
accompanied  by  Mr.  William  Johnson,  a  celebrated  parti- 
san, went  with  a  torpedo,  to  blow  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  then 
supposed  to  be  lying  in  Kingston.  He  was  discovered  by 
two  of  the  enemy's  boats,  and  found  himself  reduced  to  the 
necessity  of  capturing  them.  Having  now  as  many  priso- 
ners as  men  of  his  own,  and  understanding  that  the  ship 
was  not  in  port,  Mr.  M'Gowan  returned  to  the  Harbour. 
At  the  end  of  the  month  the  navigation  closed. 


424  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


ALTHOUGH  Lake  Champlain  had  been  the  scene  of  so 
many  important  events,  in  the  previous  wars  of  the  conti- 
nent, the  country  had  so  far  advanced  as  to  render  it,  until 
near  the  close  of  1814,  of  but  little  moment,  in  the  present 
contest.  By  that  time,  large  reinforcements  had  arrived  in 
the  Canadas,  from  Europe,  and  an  army  was  collected  in 
the  vicinity  of  Montreal,  that  has  been  differently  estimated 
to  contain  from  ten  to  fifteen  thousand-  men.  With  this 
force,  the  enemy  now  contemplated  an  invasion  of  the 
northern  and  least  populous  counties  of  New  York,  follow- 
ing the  route  laid  down  for  Gen.  Burgoyne,  in  his  unfortu- 
nate expedition  of  1777.  How  far  the  English  expected 
to  penetrate,  on  this  occasion,  is  still  a  matter  of  doubt, 
though  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga  are  thought  to  have 
been  their  aim,  with  a  view  to  farther  conquests  in  the 
spring.  Some  have  imagined  that  they  hoped  to  reach 
Albany,  a  measure  that  would  have  induced  a  total  loss 
of  their  whole  force,  as  double  the  number  of  men  named 
could  hardly  have  attempted  such  an  enterprise  with  a  ra- 
tional prospect  of  success.  It  was  most  probably  intended 
to  occupy  a  portion  of  the  northern  frontier,  with  the  ex- 
pectation of  turning  the  circumstance  to  account,  in  the 
pending  negotiations,  the  English  commissioners  soon  after 
advancing  a  claim  to  drive  the  Americans  back  from  their 
ancient  boundaries,  with  a  view  to  leave  Great  Britain  the 


NAVAL  HISTORT.  425 

entire  possession  of  the  lakes.  In  such  an  expedition,  the 
command  of  Champlain  became  of  great  importance,  as  it 
flanked  the  march  of  the  invading  army  for  more  than  a 
hundred  miles,  and  offered  so  many  facilities  for  forwarding 
supplies,  as  well  as  for  annoyance  and  defence.  Until  this 
season,  neither  nation  had  a  force  of  any  moment  on  that 
water,  but  the  Americans  had  built  a  ship  and  a  schooner, 
during  the  winter  and  spring ;  and  when  it  was  found  that  the 
enemy  was  preparing  for  a  serious  effort,  the  keel  of  a  brig 
was  laid.  Many  galleys,  or  gun-boats,  were  also  constructed. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  English  were  not  idle.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  small  vessels  they  had  possessed  the  previous 
year,  they  built  a  brig,  and  as  soon  as  the  last  American  ves- 
sel was  in  frame,  they  laid  the  keel  of  a  ship.  By  con- 
structing the  latter,  a  great  advantage  was  secured,  care 
being  taken,  as  a  matter  of  course,  to  make  her  of  a 
size  sufficient  to  be  certain  of  possessing  the  greatest  force. 
The  American  brig,  which  was  called  the  Eagle,  was 
launched  about  the  middle  of  August;  and  the  English  ship, 
which  was  named  the  Confiance,  on  the  25th  of  the  same 
month.  As  the  English  army  was  already  collecting  on 
the  frontier,  the  utmost  exertions  were  now  made  by  both 
sides,  and  each  appeared  on  the  lake  as  it  got  ready. 
Capt.  M'Donough,  who  still  commanded  the  American 
force,  was  enabled  to  get  out  a  few  days  before  his  adver- 
sary; and  cruising  being  almost  out  of  the  question  on  this 
long  and  narrow  body  of  water,  he  advanced  as  far  as 
Plattsburg,  the  point  selected  for  the  defence,  and  anchored, 
the  3d  of  September,  on  the  flank  of  the  troops  which  oc- 
cupied the  entrenchments  at  that  place.* 

About  this  time,  Sir  George  Prevost,  the  English  com- 
mander-in-chief,  advanced  against  Plattsburg,  then  held  by 

*  Previously  to  this,  the  enemy  made  an  abortive  attempt  to  sink  a 
vessel  in  the  Otter,  to  prevent  the  Americans  from  getting1  out,  but  was 
beaten  off'. 

VOL.  II.— 36 


426  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Brig.  Gen.  M'Comb,  at  the  head  of  only  1500  effectives, 
with  a  force  that  probably  amounted  to  12,000  men.  The 
English  army  was  divided  into  four  brigades,  which  were 
led  by  Lieut.  Gen.  de  Rottenburg,  Majors  General  Brisbane, 
Power  and  Robinson;  Major  Gen.  Baynes  doing  the  duty  of 
Adj.  General.  With  this  formidable  force,  Sir  George  Pre- 
vost  advanced  slowly,  waiting  for  the  flotilla  to  get  ready, 
and  to  appear  on  his  left  flank.  A  good  deal  of  skirmishing 
ensued,  and  from  the  7th  to  the  llth,  the  enemy  was  em- 
ployed in  bringing  up  his  battering  train,  stores  and  rein- 
forcements. Capt.  Downie,  late  of  the  Montreal,  on  Lake 
Ontario,  had  been  sent  by  Sir  James  Yeo,  to  command  on 
this  lake.  It  has  been  said  that  he  was  hurried  into  action 
by  the  pressing  solicitations  of  the  Governor-General,  but  in 
the  course  of  a  newspaper  controversy  that  succeeded,  the 
latter  caused  a  letter  of  the  commanding  naval  officer  to  be 
published,  in  which  Capt.  Downie,  but  a  few  days  before 
the  conflict,  announced  his  determination  not  to  go  out  until 
his  vessels  were  ready.  In  one  sense,  certainly,  neither 
squadron  was  in  a  very  prepared  state,  the  largest  English 
vessel  having  been  in  the  water  but  1G  days,  when  it  was 
brought  into  action;  and  the  second  vessel  in  size  of  the 
Americans  but  30  days.  In  point  of  fact,  the  Eagle  was 
ready  for  service  but  8  days  before  the  Confiance.  As 
these  vessels,  however,  had  little  need  of  stores,  and  the 
action  that  ensued  was  fought  at  anchor,  they  were,  in 
truth,  a  species  of  floating  batteries. 

On  the  6th,  Capt.  M'Donough  ordered  the  galleys  to  the 
head  of  the  bay,  to  annoy  the  English  army,  and  a  cannonad- 
ing occurred  which  lasted  two  hours.  The  wind  coming  on 
to  blow  a  gale  that  menaced  the  galleys  with  shipwreck,  Mr. 
Duncan,  a  midshipman  of  the  Saratoga,  was  sent  in  a  gig 
to  order  them  to  retire.  It  is  supposed  that  the  appearance 
of  the  boat  induced  the  enemy  to  think  that  Capt.  M'Don- 
ough himself,  had  joined  his  galleys,  for  he  concentrated  a 
fire  on  the  galley  Mr.  Duncan  was  in,  and  that  young  offi- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  427 

cer  received  a  severe  wound,  by  which  he  lost  the  use  of  an 
arm.  Afterwards  one  of  the  galleys  drifted  in,  under  the 
guns  of  the  enemy,  and  she  also  sustained  some  loss,  but  was 
eventually  brought  off. 

The  general  direction  of  Lake  Champlain  is  north  and 
south,  but  at  the  point  called  Cumberland  Head,  in  coming 
south,  the  land  bends  north  again,  forming  Plattsburg  Bay, 
which  is  a  deep  indentation  of  the  shore  that  leaves  a  basin 
open  to  the  southward,  and  which,  in  form,  consequently  lies 
nearly  parallel  to  the  main  lake.  The  east  side  of  this  bay' 
is  protected  by  the  long  narrow  bit  of  land  that  terminates 
in  the  Head.  Its  bottom,  or  northern  end,  and  its  western 
shore,  are  encircled  by  the  main,  while  to  the  southward  and 
eastward  is  the  entrance.  Near  the  centre  of  the  western 
shore  the  Saranac  empties  into  the  bay,  and  on  both  its 
banks  stands  the  village  of  Plattsburg.  About  half  a  league 
from  the  Head,  in  a  south-westerly  direction,  and  quite  near 
the  western  shore,  is  an  extensive  shoal,  and  a  small  low  isl- 
and, which  commands  the  approach  to  the  bay  in  that  direc- 
tion. At  this  spot,  which  is  called  Crab  Island,  the  naval  hos- 
pital was  established,  and  a  small  battery  of  one  gun  erected. 

Capt.  M'Donough  had  chosen  an  anchorage  a  little  to  the 
south  of  the  outlet  of  the  Saranac  for  his  position.  His 
vessels  lay  in  a  line  parallel  to  the  coast,  extending  north 
and  south,  and  distant  from  the  western  shore  near  two 
miles.  The  last  vessel  at  the  southward  was  so  near  the 
shoal,  as  to  prevent  the  English  from  passing  that  end  of  the 
line,  while  all  the  ships  lay  so  far  out  towards  Cumberland 
Head,  as  to  bring  the  enemy  within  reach  of  carronades, 
should  he  enter  the  bay  on  that  side.  The  Eagle,  Capt. 
Henley,  lay  at  the  northern  extremity  of  the  American  line, 
and  what  might,  during  the  battle,  have  been  called  its  head, 
the  wind  being  at  the  northward  and  eastward;  the  Sara- 
toga, Capt.  M'Donough's  own  vessel,  second;  the  Ticonde- 
roga,  Lieut.  Com. Cassin,  third ;  and  the  Preble,  Lieut.  Charles 


428  NAVAL  HISTOBY. 

Budd,  last.  The  Preble  lay  a  little  farther  south  than  the 
pitch  of  Cumberland  Head.  The  first  of  these  vessels  just 
mentioned  was  a  brig  of  20  guns,  and  150  men,  all  told;  the 
second  a  ship  of  26  guns,  and  212  men;  the  third  a  schooner 
of  17  guns  and  110  men;  the  last  a  sloop,  or  cutter,  of  7 
guns  and  30  men.  The  metal  of  all  these  vessels,  as  well 
as  of  those  of  the  enemy,  was  unusually  heavy,  there  being 
no  swell  in  the  lake  to  render  it  dangerous.  The  Saratoga 
mounted  8  long  twenty-fours,  6  forty-two,  and  12  thirty- 
two  ptfund  carronades;  the  Eagle  8  long  eighteens  and  12 
thirty-two  pound  carronades;  the  Ticonderoga  4  long  eigh- 
teens, 8  long  twelves,  and  4  thirty-two  pound  carronades, 
and  one  eighteen  pound  columbiad;  the  Preble  7  long  nines. 
In  addition  to  these  four  vessels,  the  Americans  had  10 
galleys,  or  gun-boats,  six  large  and  four  small.  Each  of  the 
former  mounted  a  long  twenty-four,  and  an  eighteen  pound 
columbiad;  each  of  the  latter  one  long  twelve.  The  galleys, 
on  an  average,  had  about  35  men  each.  The  total  force  of 
the  Americans  present  consisted,  consequently,  of  14  ves- 
sels, mounting  102  guns,  and  containing  about  850  men 
eluding  officers,  and  a  small  detachment  of  soldiers,  who 
did  duty  as  marines,  none  of  the  corps  having  been  sent  on 
Lake  Champlain.  To  complete  his  order  of  battle,  Capt. 
M'Donough  directed  two  of  the  galleys  to  keep  in  shore  of 
the  Eagle,  and  a  little  to  windward  of  her,  to  sustain  the 
head  of  the  line ;  one  or  two  more  to  lie  opposite  to  the 
interval  between  the  Eagle  and  Saratoga;  a  few  opposite 
to  the  interval  between  the  Saratoga  and  Ticonderoga ;  and 
two  or  three  opposite  the  interval  between  the  Ticonderoga 
and  Preble.  If  any  order  had  been  given  to  cover  the  rear 
of  the  line  in  the  same  manner,  it  was  not  obeyed. 

The  Americans  were,  consequently,  formed  in  two  lines, 
distant  from  each  other  about  40  yards;  the  large  vessels 
at  anchor,  and  the  galleys  under  their  sweeps.  Owing  to 
the  latter  circumstance,  the  inner  line  soon  got  to  be  very 


ves- 
,  in- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  429 

irregular,  however,  some  of  the  galleys  pressing  boldly 
forward,  while  others  were  less  impelled  by  the  ardour  of 
their  commanders. 

The  known  force  of  the  enemy  was  materially  greater 
than  that  of  the  Americans.  His  largest  vessel,  the  Confi- 
ance,  commanded  by  Capt.  Downie  in  person,  had  the  gun- 
deck  of  a  heavy  frigate,  mounting  on  it  an  armament  similar 
to  that  of  the  Constitution  or  United  States,  or  30  long 
twenty-fours.  She  had  no  spar-deck,  but  there  was  a  spa- 
cious top-gallant  forecastle,  and  a  short  poop  that  came  no 
farther  forward  than  the  mizzen-mast.  On  the  first  were  a 
long  twenty-four  on  a  circle,  and  4  heavy  carronades;  and 
on  the  last  2  heavy  carronades,  making  an  armament  of  37 
guns  in  all.*  Her  complement  of  men  is  supposed  to  have 
been  considerably  more  than  300.  The  next  vessel  of  the 
enemy  was  the  Linnet,  Capt.  Pring,  a  brig  of  16  long 
twelves,  with  a  crew  of  about  100  men.  There  were  two 
sloops,  the  Chubb,  Lieut.  M'Ghee,  and  the  Finch,  Lieut. 
Hicks,  the  former  carrying  10  eighteen  pound  carronades 
and  1  long  six,  and  the  latter  6  eighteen  pound  carronades, 
1  eighteen  pound  columbiad,  and  4  long  sixes.  Each  of 
these  sloops  had  about  40  men.  To  these  four  vessels  were 
added  a  force  in  galleys,  or  gun-boats,  which  Sir  George  Pre- 
vost,  in  his  published  accounts,  states  at  twelve  in  number, 
and  Capt.  M'Donough  at  thirteen.  These  vessels  were  simi- 
larly constructed  to  the  American  galleys,  eight  mounting 
two,  and  the  remainder  but  one  gun  each.  Thus  the  whole 

*  This  statement  is  different  from  the  published  account  of  Capt. 
M'Donough,  who  made  the  force  of  the  Confiance  39  guns,  of  calibres 
varying  a  little  from  those  given  here.  There  were  39  guns  on  board 
the  Confiance,  but  two  of  them  were  not  mounted,  or  intended  to  be 
mounted.  Capt.  M'Donough's  report  was  probably  made  on  the  repre- 
sentation of  some  one  who  had  not  properly  examined  the  English  ship. 
That  given  here  is  taken  from  an  officer  who  was  on  board  the  Con- 
fiance  within  ten  minutes  after  the  Linnet  struck,  and  who  was  in  charge 
of  her  for  two  months. 

36* 


430  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

force  of  Capt.  Downie  consisted  of  sixteen  or  seventeen 
vessels,  as  the  case  may  have  been,  mounting  in  all,  115  or 
116  guns,  and  carrying  about  1000  men. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  the  British  gun-boats  sailed 
from  Isle  aux  Noix,  to  cover  the  left  flank  of  their  army> 
then  marching  on  Plattsburg,  under  the  orders  of  Capt. 
Pring,  and  on  the  41  h  that  officer  took  possession  of  Isle  au 
Motte,  where  he  constructed  a  battery,  and  landed  some 
supplies  for  the  troops.  On  the  8th,  the  four  larger  vessels 
arrived  under  Capt.  Downie,  but  remained  at  anchor  until 
the  llth,  waiting  to  receive  some  necessaries.  At  day-light, 
on  the  morning  just  mentioned,  the  whole  force  weighed, 
and  moved  forward  in  a  body. 

The  guard-boat  of  the  Americans  pulled  in  shortly  after 
the  sun  had  risen,  and  announced  the  approach  of  the  enemy. 
As  the  wind  was  fair,  a  good  working  breeze  at  the  north- 
ward and  eastward,  Capt.  M'Donough  ordered  the  vessels 
cleared,  and  preparations  made  to  fight  at  anchor.  Eight 
bells  were  striking  in  the  American  squadron,  as  the  upper 
sails  of  the  English  vessels  were  seen  passing  along  the 
land,  in  the  main  lake,  on  their  way  to  double  Cumberland 
Head,  in  order  to  enter  the  bay.  The  enemy  had  the  wind 
rather  on  his  larboard  quarter,  the  booms  of  his  cutters 
swinging  out  to  starboard.  The  Finch  led,  succeeded  by  the 
Confiance,  Linnet  and  Chubb,  while  the  gun-boats,  all  of 
which,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Americans,  had  two  latine 
sails,  followed  without  much  order,  keeping  just  clear  of  the 
shore. 

The  first  vessel  that  came  round  the  Head  was  a  sloop, 
which  is  said  to  have  carried  a  company  of  amateurs,  and 
which  took  no  part  in  the  engagement.  She  kept  well 
to  leeward,  stood  down  towards  Crab  Island,  and  was 
soon  unobserved.*  The  Finch  came  next,  and  soon  after 

*  As  the  character  of  this  vessel  was  not  at  first  known,  it  is  not  im- 
possible that  Capt.  M'Donough  mistook  her  for  one  of  the  g-un-boats, 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  431 

the  other  large  vessels  of  the  enemy  opened  from  behind 
the  land,  and  hauled  up  to  the  wind  in  a  line  abreast,  lying- 
to  until  their  galleys  could  join.  The  latter  passed  to  lee- 
ward, and  formed  in  the  same  manner  as  their  consorts. 
The  two  squadrons  were  now  in  plain  view  of  each  other, 
distant  about  a  league.  As  soon  as  their  gun-boats  were  in 
their  stations,  and  the  different  commanders  had  received 
their  orders,  the  English  filled,  with  their  starboard  tacks 
aboard,  and  headed  in  towards  the  American  vessels,  in  a 
line  abreast,  the  Chubb  to  windward,  and  the  Finch  to  lee- 
ward, most  of  the  gun-boats,  however,  being  to  leeward  of 
the  latter.  The  movements  of  the  Finch  had  been  a  little 
singular,  ever  since  she  led  round  the  Head,  for  she  is  said 
not  to  have  hove-to,  but  to  have  run  off,  half  way  to  Crab 
Island  with  the  wind  abeam,  then  to  have  tacked  and  got  into 
her  station,  after  the  other  vessels  had  filled.  This  move- 
ment was  probably  intended  to  reconnoitre,  or  to  menace 
the  rear  of  the  Americans.  The  enemy  was  now  standing 
in,  close  hauled,  the  Chubb  looking  well  to  windward  of  the 
Eagle,  the  vessel  that  lay  at  the  head  of  the  American  line, 
the  Linnet  laying  her  course  for  the  bows  of  the  same  brig, 
the  Confiance  intending  to  fetch  far  enough  ahead  of  the 
Saratoga  to  lay  that  ship  athwart  hawse,  and  the  Finch, 
with  the  gun-boats,  standing  for  the  Ticonderoga  and 
Preble. 

Capt.  M'Donough  had  taken  his  anchorage  with  the  eye 
of  a  seaman.  As  has  been  mentioned,  his  line  could  not  be 
doubled,  on  account  of  the  shoal,  there  was  not  room  to 
anchor  on  his  broadside  out  of  reach  of  the  carronades,  that 
formed  so  large  a  portion  of  his  armaments,  and  in  order  to 
close,  it  was  necessary,  let  the  wind  blow  as  it  might,  to 

more  especially  as  she  is  said  to  have  subsequently  fled  with  them,  which 
would  account  for  the  fact  of  his  stating1  the  latter  at  one  more  than  Sir 
George  Prevost,  who  doubtless  had  an  accurate  knowledge  of  Capt. 
Downie's  force. 


432  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

stand  in  upon  his  vessels,  bows  on.  Though  the  latter  was 
an  experiment  not  to  be  rashly  attempted,  the  English,  ac- 
customed to  see  it  succeed  in  their  European  conflicts,  did 
not  hesitate  to  adopt  it,  on  this  occasion,  most  probably  pre- 
suming on  their  knowledge  of  the  large  proportion  of  short 
guns,  in  the  vessels  of  their  adversaries. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  Americans  were  anchored 
with  springs.  But  not  content  with  this  customary  arrange- 
ment, Capt.  M'Donough  had  laid  a  kedge  broad  off  on  each 
bow  of  the  Saratoga,  and  brought  their  hawsers  in,  upon 
the  two  quarters,  letting  them  hang  in  bights,  under  water. 
This  timely  precaution  gained  the  victory. 

As  the  enemy  filled,  the  American  vessels  sprung  their 
broadsides  to  bear,  and  a  few  minutes  passed  in  the  solemn 
and  silent  expectation,  that,  in  a  disciplined  ship,  always 
precedes  a  battle.    Suddenly  the  Eagle  discharged,  in  quick 
succession,  the  four  long  eighteens  in  broadside.     In  clear- 
ing the  decks  of  the  Saratoga,  some  hen-coops  were  thrown 
overboard,  and  the  poultry  had  been  permitted  to  run  at 
large.     Startled  by  the  reports  of  the  guns,  a  young  cock 
flew  upon  a  gun  slide,  clapped  his  wings  and  crowed.     At 
this  animating  sound,  the  men  spontaneously  gave  three 
cheers.     This  little  occurrence  relieved  the  usual  breathing 
time,  between  preparation  and  the  combat,  and  it  had  a 
powerful  influence  on  the  known  tendencies  of  the  seamen. 
Still  Capt.  M'Donough  did  not  give  the  order  to  commence, 
although  the  enemy's  galleys  now  opened,  for  it  was  appa- 
rent that  the  fire  of  the  Eagle,  which  vessel  continued  to 
engage,  was  useless.  As  soon,  however,  as  it  was  seen  that 
her  shot  told,  Capt.  M'Donough,  himself,   sighted  a  long 
twenty-four,  and  the  gun  was  fired.     This  shot  is  said  to 
have  struck  the  Confiance  near  the  outer  hawse-hole,  and 
to  have  passed  the  length  of  her  deck,  killing  and  wounding 
several  men,  and  carrying  away  the  wheel.     It  was  a  sig- 
nal for  all  the  American  long  guns  to  open,  and  it  was  soon 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  433 

seen  that  the  English  commanding  ship,  in  particular,  was 
suffering  heavily.  Still  the  enemy  advanced  steadily,  and  in 
the  most  gallant  manner,  confident  if  he  could  get  the  desired 
position  with  his  vessels,  that  the  great  weight  of  the  Confi- 
ance  would  at  once  decide  the  fate  of  the  day.  But  he  had 
miscalculated  his  own  powers  of  endurance,  and  not  im- 
probably those  of  annoyance  possessed  by  the  Americans. 
The  anchors  of  the  Confiance  were  hanging  by  the  stop- 
pers, in  readiness  to  let  go,  and  the  larboard  bower  was  soon 
cut  away,  as  well  as  a  spare  anchor  in  the  larboard  fore- 
chains.  In  short,  after  bearing  the  fire  of  the  American  ves- 
sels as  long  as  possible,  and  the  wind  beginning  to  baffle, 
Capt.  Downie  found  himself  reduced  to  the  necessity  of 
anchoring  while  still  at  the  distance  of  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  from  the  American  line.  The  helm  was  put  a-port, 
the  ship  shot  into  the  wind,  and  a  kedge  was  let  go,  while 
the  vessel  took  a  sheer,  and  brought  up  with  her  starboard 
bower.  In  doing  the  latter,  however,  the  kedge  was 
fouled  and  became  of  no  use.  In  coming  to,  her  halyards 
were  let  run,  and  she  hauled  up  her  courses.  At  this  time 
the  Linnet  and  Chubb  were  still  standing  in,  farther  to 
windward,  and  the  former,  as  her  guns  bore,  fired  a  broad- 
side at  the  Saratoga.  The  Linnet  soon  after  anchored, 
somewhat  nearer  than  the  Confiance,  getting  a  very  favour- 
able position  forward  of  the  Eagle's  beam.  The  Chubb 
kept  under  way,  intending,  if  possible,  to  rake  the  Ameri- 
can line.  The  Finch  got  abreast  of  the  Ticonderoga,  un- 
der her  sweeps,  supported  by  the  gun-boats. 
.  The  English  vessels  came-to  in  very  handsome  style,  nor 
did  the  Confiance  fire  a  single  gun  until  secured,  although 
the  entire  American  line,  was  now  engaged  with  all  its 
force.  As  soon  as  Capt.  Downie  had  performed  this  duty, 
in  a  seaman-like  manner,  his  ship  appeared  a  sheet  of  fire, 
discharging  all  her  guns  at  nearly  the  same  instant,  pointed 
principally  at  the  Saratoga.  The  effect  of  a  broadside, 


434  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

thrown  from  16  long  twenty-fours,  double  shotted,  in  per- 
fectly smooth  water,  with  guns  levelled  to  point  blank  range,' 
and  cooly  sighted,  was  terrible  in  the  little  ship  that  received 
it.  After  the  crash  had  subsided,  Capt.  M'Donough  saw 
that  near  half  his  crew  was  on  the  deck,  for  many  had  been 
knocked  down  who  sustained  no  real  injuries.  It  is  sup- 
posed, however,  that  about  40  men,  or  near  one-fifth  of  her 
complement,  were  killed  and  wounded  on  board  the  Sara- 
toga, by  this  single  discharge.  The  hatches  had  been 
fastened  down,  as  usual,  but  the  bodies  so  cumbered  the 
deck,  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  remove  the  fastenings 
and  to  pass  them  below.  The  effect  continued  but  a  mo- 
ment, when  the  ship  resumed  her  fire  as  gallantly  as  ever. 
Among  the  slain,  however,  was  Mr.  Peter  Gamble,  the  first 
lieutenant.*  By  this  early  loss,  but  one  officer  of  that  rank, 
Act.  Lieut.  Vallette,  was  left  in  the  Saratoga. 

On  the  part  of  the  principal  vessels,  the  battle  now  be- 
came a  steady,  animated,  but  as  guns  were  injured,  a  gra- 
dually decreasing  cannonade.  Still  the  character  of  the 
battle  was  relieved  by  several  little  incidents  that  merit 
notice.  The  Chubb,  while  manoeuvring  near  the  head  of 
the  American  line,  received  a  broadside  from  the  Eagle 
that  crippled  her,  and  she  drifted  down  between  the  dp- 
posing  vessels,  until  near  the  Saratoga,  which  ship  fired  a 
shot  into  her,  and  she  immediately  struck.  Mr.  Platt,  one 
of  the  Saratoga's  midshipmen,  was  sent  with  a  boat  to  take 
possession.  This  young  officer  threw  the  prize  a  line,  and 

*  This  young  officer  was  on  his  knees  sighting  the  bow  gun,  when  a 
shot  entered  the  port,  split  the  quoin,  drove  a  portion  of  it  against 
his  breast,  and  laid  him  dead  on  the  deck  without  breaking  his  skin. 
Fifteen  minutes  later,  one  of  the  American  shot  struck  the  muzzle  qf  a 
twenty-four,  on  board  the  Confiance,  dismounted  it,  sending  it  bodily  in- 
board, against  the  groin  of  Capt.  Downie,  killing  him,  also,  without 
breaking  the  skin. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


towed  her  down  astern  of  the  Saratoga,  and  in-shore,  anchor- 
ing her  near  the  mouth  of  the  Saranac.  This  little  success 
occurred  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  enemy  had 
anchored,  and  was  considered  a  favourable  omen,  though 
all  well  knew  that  on  the  Confiance  alone  depended  the  fate 
of  the  day.  The  Chubb  had  suffered  materially,  nearly  half 
of  her  people  having  been  killed  and  wounded. 

About  an  hour  later,  the  Finch  was  also  driven  out  of 
her  berth,  by  the  Ticonderoga,   and  being  crippled,  she 
drifted  down  upon  Crab  Island  Shoal,  where,  receiving  a 
shot  or  two  from  the   gun  mounted  in  the  battery,   she 
struck,  and  was  taken  possession  of  by  the  invalids  belong- 
ing to  the  hospital.     At  this  end  of  the  line,  the  British  gal- 
leys early  made  several  desperate  efforts  to  close,  and  soon 
after  the  Finch  had  drifted  away,  they  forced  the  Preble 
out  of  the  American  line,  this  vessel  cutting  her  cable,  and 
shifting  her  anchorage  to  a  station  considerably  in-shore, 
where  she  was  of  no  more  service  throughout  the  day. 
The  rear  of  the  American  line  was  certainly  its  weakest 
point;  and  having  compelled  the  little  Preble  to  retreat,  the 
enemy's  galleys  were  emboldened  to  renew  their  efforts 
against  the  vessel  ahead  of  her,  which  was  the  Ticonde- 
roga.    This  schooner,  however,  was  better  able  to  resist 
them,  and  she  was  very  nobly  fought.     Her  spirited  com- 
mander, Lieut.  Com.  Cassin,  walked  the  taffrail,   where 
he  could   watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy's  galleys, 
amidst  showers  of  canister  and  grape,  directing  discharges 
of  bags  of  musket  balls,  and  other  light  missiles,  that  had 
the  effect  of  keeping  the  British  effectually  at  bay.    Several 
times  the  English  galleys,  of  which  many  were  very  gal- 
lantly fought,  closed  quite  near,  with  an  evident  intent  to 
board,  but  the  great  steadiness  on  board  the  Ticonderoga 
beat  them  back,  and  completely  covered  the  rear  of  the 
line  for  the  remainder  of  the  day.    So  desperate  were  some 
of  the  assaults,  notwithstanding,  that  the  galleys  have  been 


436  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

described  as  several   times  getting  nearly  within  a  boat 
hook's  length  of  the  schooner. 

While  these  reverses  and  successes  were  occurring  in  the 
rear  of  the  two  lines,  the  Americans  were  suffering  heavily 
at  the  other  extremity.  The  Linnet  had  got  a  very  com- 
manding position,  and  she  was  very  admirably  fought;  while 
the  Eagle,  which  received  all  her  fire,  and  part  of  that  of  the 
Confiance,  having  lost  her  springs,  found  herself  so  situ- 
ated, as  not  to  be  able  to  bring  her  guns  fairly  to  bear  on 
either  of  the  enemy's  vessels.  Capt.  Henley  had  run  his 
topsail-yards,  with  the  sails  stopped,  to  the  mast  heads,  pre- 
viously to  engaging,  and  he  now  cut  his  cable,  sheeted 
home  his  topsails,  cast  the  brig,  and  running  down,  anchored 
by  the  stern,  between  the  Saratoga  and  Ticonderoga,  neces- 
sarily a  little  in-shore  of  both.  Here  he  opened  afresh,  and 
with  better  effect,  on  the  Confiance  and  galleys,  using  his 
larboard  guns.  But  this  movement  left  the  Saratoga  ex- 
posed to  nearly  the  whole  fire  of  the  Linnet,  which  brig  now 
sprung  her  broadside  in  a  manner  to  rake  the  American 
ship  on  her  bows. 

Shortly  after  this  important  change  had  occurred  at  the 
head  of  the  lines,  the  fire  of  the  two  ships  began  materially 
to  lessen,  as  gun  after  gun  became  disabled;  the  Saratoga, 
in  particular,  having  had  all  her  long  pieces  rendered  use- 
less by  shot,  while  most  of  the  carronades  were  dismounted, 
either  in  the  same  manner,  or  in  consequence  of  a  disposi- 
tion in  the  men  to  overcharge  them.*  At  length  but  a 
single  carronade  remained  in  the  starboard  batteries,  and 
on  firing  it,  the  navel  bolt  broke,  the  gun  flew  off  the 

*  The  want  of  officers  was  greatly  felt  in  this  particular.  In  some  in- 
stances the  seamen  would  put  two  round  shot,  and  two  stand  of  grape, 
into  a  carronade,  the  end  of  the  last  stand  sticking  out  of  the  muzzle.  In 
consequence  of  this  mistaken  zeal,  much  less  execution  was  done,  besides 
crippling  the  heated  guns,  the  enemy's  sides  being  found  full  of  shot  that 
had  lodged. 

' 


NAVAL  HiSToar.  437 

carriage,  and  it  actually  fell  down  the  main  hatch.  By 
this  accident,  the  American  commanding  ship  was  left  in 
the  middle  of  the  battle,  without  a  single  available  gun. 
Nothing  remained,  but  to  make  an  immediate  attempt  to 
wind  the  ship. 

A  stream  anchor  was  suspended  astern,  and  it  was  let 
go  accordingly.  The  men  then  clapped  on  the  hawser 
that  led  to  the  starboard  quarter,  and  brought  the  ship's  stern 
up  over  the  kedge,  but  here  she  hung,  there  not  being  suffi- 
cient wind,  or  current,  to  force  her  bows  round.  A  line  had 
been  bent  to  a  bight  in  the  stream  cable,  with  a  view  to  help 
wind  the  ship,  and  she  now  rode  by  the  kedge  and  this  line, 
with  her  stern  under  the  raking  broadside  of  the  Linnet, 
which  brig  kept  up  a  steady  and  well-directed  fire.  The 
larboard  batteries  having  been  manned  and  got  ready, 
Capt.  M'Donough  ordered  all  the  men  from  the  guns,  where 
they  were  uselessly  suffering,  telling  them  to  go  forward. 
By  rowsing  on  the  line,  the  ship  was  at  length  got  so  far 
round,  that  the  aftermost  gun  would  bear  on  the  Confiance, 
when  it  was  instantly  manned,  and  began  to  play.  The 
next  gun  was  used  in  the  same  manner,  but  it  was  soon  ap- 
parent that  the  ship  could  be  got  no  farther  round,  for  she 
was  now  nearly  end  on  to  the  wind.  At  this  critical  mo- 
ment, Mr.  Brum,  the  master,  bethought  him  of  the  haw- 
ser that  had  led  to  the  larboard  quarter.  It  was  got  for- 
ward under  the  bows,  and  passed  aft  to  the  starboard 
quarter,  when  the  ship's  stern  was  immediately  sprung  to 
the  westward,  so  as  to  bring  all  her  larboard  guns  to  bear 
on  the  English  ship,  with  fatal  effect. 

As  soon  as  the  preparations  were  made  to  wind  the 
Saratoga,  the  Confiance  attempted  to  perform  the  same 
evolution.  Her  springs  were  hauled  on,  but  they  merely 
forced  the  ship  ahead,  and  having  borne  the  fresh  broad- 
side of  the  Americans,  until  she  had  scarcely  a  gun  with 
which  to  return  the  fire,  and  failing  in  all  her  efforts  to  get 

VOL.  II.— 37 


438  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

round,  about  two  hours  and  a  quarter  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  action,  her  commanding  officer  lowered  his 
flag.  By  hauling  again  upon  the  starboard  hawser,  the 
Saratoga's  broadside  was  immediately  sprung  to  bear  on 
the  Linnet,  which  brig  struck  in  about  fifteen  minutes  after 
her  consort.  At  this  moment,  the  enemy's  galleys  had 
been  driven  back,  nearly,  or  quite  half  a  mile,  and  they  lay 
irregularly  scattered,  and  setting  to  leeward,  keeping  up  a 
desultory  firing.  As  soon  as  they  found  that  the  large  ves- 
sels had  submitted,  they  ceased  the  combat,  and  lowered 
their  colours.  At  this  proud  moment,  it  is  believed,  on  au- 
thority entitled  to  the  highest  respect,  there  was  not  a  single 
English  ensign,  out  of  sixteen,  or  seventeen,  that  had  so  late- 
ly been  flying,  left  abroad  in  the  bay! 

In  this  long  and  bloody  conflict,  the  Saratoga  had  28  men 
killed,  and  29  wounded,  or  more  than  a  fourth  of  all  on 
board  her;  the  Eagle  13  killed,  and  20  wounded,  which 
was  sustaining  a  loss  in  nearly  an  equal  proportion ;  the 
Ticonderoga  6  killed,  and  6  wounded  ;  the  Preble  2  killed ; 
while  on  board  the  10  galleys,  only  3  were  killed,  and  3 
wounded.  The  Saratoga  was  hulled  fifty-five  times,  prin- 
cipally by  twenty-four-pound  shot;  and  the  Eagle  thirty-nine 
times.  After  the  first  broadside  of  the  Confiance,  the  fire  of  v 
that  ship  became  much  less  destructive,  the  shot  passing 
higher  at  each  successive  discharge.  Nearly  all  the  ham- 
mocks  were  cut  to  pieces  in  the  Saratoga's  netting,  at  the 
second  broadside;  and  it  was  seen,  as  the  battle  advanced, 
that  the  shot  cut  the  standing  rigging  farther  from  the  deck. 
Few  persons  were  hurt  by  any  thing  but  grape,  or  by  the 
shot  of  the  Linnet,*  after  the  first  fire. 

*  On  inquiring  into  a  circumstance  so  curie  us,  when  the  ships  lay  at  the 
same  distance  and  in  smooth  water,  the  American  officers  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  enemy  had  levelled  his  guns  to  point  blank  range, 
previously  to  engaging,  and  that  as  the  quoins  were  loosened  at  each  dis- 
charge, they  were  not  properly  replaced.  There  is  no  question  that 
the  fire  of  the  Americans  produced  a  great  impression  on  board  the  Con- 


ITAVAL  HISTORY.  439 

According  to  the  report  of  Capt.  Pring,  of  the  Linnet, 
dated  on  the  12th  of  September,  the  Confiance  lost  41 
killed,  and  40  wounded.  It  was  admitted,  however,  that 
no  good  opportunity  had  then  existed  to  ascertain  the  casu- 
alties. At  a  later  day,  the  English  themselves  enumerated 
her  wounded  at  83.  This  would  make  the  total  loss  of  that 
ship  124;  but  even  this  number  is  supposed  to  be  mate- 
rially short  of  the  truth.  The  Linnet  is  reported  to  have 
had  10  killed,  and  14  wounded.  This  loss  is  also  believed 
to  be  considerably  below  the  fact.  The  Chubb  had  6  killed, 
and  10  wounded.  The  Finch  was  reported  by  the  enemy, 
to  have  had  but  2  men  wounded.  No  American  official 
report  of  the  casualties  in  the  English  vessels  has  been  pub- 
lished, but  by  an  estimate  made  on  the  best  data  that  could 
be  found,  the  Linnet  was  thought  to  have  lost  50  men,  and 
the  two  smaller  vessels  taken,  about  30  between  them.  No 
account,  whatever,  has  been  published  of  the  casualties  on 
board  the  English  galleys,  though  the  slaughter  in  them 
is  believed  to  have  been  very  heavy.  An  impression  has 
prevailed  with  the  public,  that  these  galleys  did  not  support 
their  commander,  but  in  the  American  fleet,  they  were 
thought  to  have  conducted  with  great  gallantry,  and  to 
have  fully  sustained  their  share  of  the  battle.  They  are 
also  believed  to  have  suffered  in  a  just  proportion,  from  the 
fire  of  the  Ticonderoga,  in  particular. 

As  soon  as  the  Linnet  struck,  a  lieutenant  was  sent  to 
take  possession  of  the  Confiance.  Bad  as  was  the  situation 
of  the  Saratoga,  that  of  this  prize  was  much  worse.  She 
had  been  hulled  105  times;  had  probably  near,  if  not  quite, 

fiance,  and  that  while  making  the  abortive  attempt  to  wind,  the  ship  was 
in  great  confusion.  After  the  battle,  the  charges  of  her  guns  were  drawn, 
and  on  the  side  she  had  fought  one  gun  was  found  with  a  canvass  bag 
holding  two  round  shot,  rammed  home  and  wadded,  without  any  powder; 
another  with  two  cartridges  and  no  shot ;  and  a  third  with  a  wad  below 
the  cartridge. 


440  NAVAT,  HISTORY. 

half  her  people  killed  and  wounded ;  and  this  formidable 
floating  battery  was  reduced  to  helpless  impotency.  She 
had  not  been  surrendered  a  moment  too  soon. 

As  the  boarding  officer  was  passing  along  the  deck  of 
the  prize,  he  accidentally  ran  against  a  lock-string,  and 
fired  one  of  the  Confiance's  starboard  guns,  which  sent  its 
shot  in  the  direction  of  Cumberland  Head.  Up  to  this 
moment,  the  English  galleys  had  been  slowly  drifting  to  lee- 
ward, with  their  colours  down,  apparently  waiting  to  be 
taken  possession  of,  but  at  the  discharge  of  this  gun,  which 
may  have  been  understood  as  a  signal,  one  or  two  of  them 
began  to  move  slowly  off,  ajid  soon  after  the  others  followed, 
pulling  but  a  very  few  sweeps.  It  is  not  known  that  one 
of  them  hoisted  her  ensign.  Capt.  M'Donough  made  a  sig- 
nal for  the  American  galleys  to  follow,  but  it  was  discovered 
that  their  men  were  wanted  at  the  pumps  of  some  of  the 
larger  vessels,  to  keep  them  from  sinking,  the  water  being 
found  over  the  berth-deck  of  the  Linnet,  and  the  signal 
was  revoked.  As  there  was  not  a  mast  that  would  bear 
any  canvass  among  all  the  larger  vessels,  the  English  gal- 
leys escaped,  thougji  they  went  off  at  first  slowly  and  ir- 
regularly, as  if  distrusting  their  own  liberty. 

Capt.  M'Donough  applauded  the  conduct  of  all  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Saratoga.  Mr.  Gamble  died  at  his  post,  fight- 
ing bravely;  Mr.  Vallette,  the  only  lieutenant  left,  conducted 
with  the  cool  discretion  that  marks  the  character  of  this  high- 
ly respectable  and  firm  officer;*  and  Mr.  Brum,  the  master, 
who  was  entrusted  with  the  important  duty  of  winding  the 
ship,  never  lost  his  self-possession  for  an  instant.  Capt. 
Henley  praised  the  conduct  of  his  officers,  as  did  Lieut. 
Com.  Cassin.  The  galleys  behaved  very  unequally,  but  the 
Borer,  Mr.  Conover;f  Netley,  Mr.  Breese;J  one  under  the 

*  Now  Commander  Vallette.  t  Now  Commander  Breese_ 

f  Now  Commander  Conover. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  441 

orders  of  Mr.  Robins,  a  master,  and  one  or  two  more  were 
considered  to  have  been  very  gallantly  handled. 

There  was  a  common  feeling  of  admiration  at  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  Ticonderoga,  Lieut.  Com.  Cassin,  de- 
fended the  rear  of  the  line,  and  at  the  noble  conduct  of  all 
on  board  her.  Once  or  twice  the  nearest  vessels  thought 
that  schooner  in  flames,  in  consequence  of  the  awful  ra- 
pidity of  her  fire. 

The  Saratoga  was  twice  on  fire  by  hot  shot  thrown  from 
the  Confiance,  her  spanker  having  been  nearly  consumed. 
This  fact  has  been  denied,  or  the  shot  attributed  to  the  bat- 
teries on  the  shore;  but  never  by  any  respectable  authority. 
No  battery  from  the  American  shore,  with  the  exception  of 
the  gun  or  two  fired  at  the  Finch  from  Crab  Island,  took 
any  part  in  the  naval  encounter;  nor  could  any,  without 
endangering  the  American  vessels  equally  with  the  enemy. 
Indeed  the  distance  rendered  it  questionable  whether  shot 
would  have  reached  with  effect,  as  Capt.  M'Donough  had 
anchored  far  off  the  land,  in  order  to  compel  the  enemy  to 
come  within  range  of  his  short  guns. 

The  Americans  found  a  furnace  on  board  the  Confiance, 
with  eight  or  ten  heated  shot  in  it,  though  the  fact  is  not 
stated  with  any  view  to  attribute  it  to  the  enemy  as  a  fault. 
It  was  an  advantage  that  he  possessed,  most  probably,  in 
consequence  of  the  presence  of  a  party  of  artillerists. 

Capt.  M'Donough,  who  was  already  very  favourably 
known  to  the  service,  for  his  personal  intrepidity,  obtained 
a  vast  accession  of  reputation,  by  the  results  of  this  day. 
His  dispositions  for  receiving  the  attack,  were  highly  judi- 
cious and  seaman-like.  By  the  manner  in  which  he  an- 
chored his  vessels,  with  the  shoal  so  near  the  rear  of  his 
line  as  to  cover  that  extremity,  and  the  land  of  Cumberland 
Head  so  near  his  broadside,  as  necessarily  to  bring  the 
enemy  within  reach  of  his  short  guns,  he  completely  made 
all  his  force  available.  The  English  were  not  near  enough, 

37* 


442  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

perhaps,  to  give  to  carronades  their  full  effect,  but  this  dis- 
advantage was  unavoidable,  the  assailing  parly  having,  of 
course,  a  choice  in  the  distance.  All  that  could  be  ob- 
tained, under  the  circumstances,  appears  to  have  been  se- 
cured, and  the  result  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  actual 
arrangement.  The  personal  deportment  of  Capt.  M'Do- 
nough  in  this  engagement,  like  that  of  Capt.  Perry  in  the 
battle  of  Lake  Erie,  was  the  subject  of  general  admiration 
in  his  little  squadron.  His  coolness  was  undisturbed 
throughout  all  the  trying  scenes  on  board  his  own  ship,  and 
although  lying  against  a  vessel  of  double  the  force,  and  near- 
ly double  the  tonnage  of  the  Saratoga,  he  met  and  resisted 
her  attack  with  a  constancy  that  seemed  to  set  defeat  at  de- 
fiance. The  winding  of  the  Saratoga,  under  such  circum- 
stances, exposed  as  she  was  to  the  raking  broadsides  of  the 
Confiance  and  Linnet,  especially  the  latter,  was  a  bold,  sea- 
man-like and  masterly  measure,  that  required  unusual  deci- 
sion and  fortitude  to  imagine  and  execute.  Most  men 
would  have  believed  that,  without  a  single  gun  on  the  side 
engaged,  a  fourth  of  their  people  cut  down,  and  their  ship  a 
wreck,  enough  injury  had  been  received  to  justify  submis- 
sion; but  Capt.  M'Donough  found  the  means  to  secure  a 
victory  in  the  desperate  condition  of  the  Saratoga. 

Although  the  personal  conduct  of  Capt.  Downie,  and  the 
gallantry  of  his  attack,  were  beyond  censure,  the  prudence 
and  nautical  merits  of  his  mode  of  approach  have  been  very 
justly  questioned.  The  Confiance  had  been  built  in  a  time 
so  short,  and  by  exertions  so  great,  as  to  put  it  out  of  the 
power  of  the  Americans  to  construct  a  vessel  to  meet  her 
.in  sufficient  season  to  obviate  the  expected  consequences, 
and  it  would  be  accusing  the  enemy  of  total  imbecility,  to 
suppose,  that  after  the  known  results  of  so  many  combats, 
he  had  not  made  his  vessel  of  ample  force  to  ensure  the 
victory.  Few  professional  judges  will  deny,  that  a  ship 
with  the  gun-deck  dimensions,  metal,  and  battery  of  a  forty- 


NAVAL  BISTORT.  443 

four,  ought  to  have  been  fully  equal,  at  least,  to  contending 
with  two  such  vessels  as  the  Saratoga  and  Eagle,  which 
would  at  once  be  attributing  to  the  enemy  a  superioritv  of 
force.  The  plan  of  the  campaign  that  was  destroyed  by 
this  defeat,  the  high  objects  in  view,  the  fact  that  the  Eng- 
lish were  the  assailants,  and  that  they  could  not  but  know 
the  force  they  were  to  attack,  together  with  all  the  other 
attendant  circumstances,  are  so  many  assurances  that  the 
battle  of  Plattsburg  Bay  was  fought,  on  the  part  of  the 
enemy,  with  a  confidence  of  victory  that  was  only  justified 
by  this  known  advantage.  The  very  name  given  to  their 
largest  ship,  was  a  pledge  to  this  effect.  Sir  James  Yeo, 
whose  command  extended  to  this  lake,  complained  to  his 
superior  officer,  that  Capt.  Downie  had  been  hurried  into 
action  by  the  Governor-General  unprepared,  but  he  did 
not  complain  of  an  insufficiency  of  force,  which  would  infer 
a  grave  fault  in  all  connected  with  the  previous  arrange- 
ments. That  Capt.  Downie  went  into  action  before  his  own 
crew  and  vessel  had  been  long  subject  to  drill  and  prepara- 
tion, is  true;  and  Capt.  M'Donough  was  labouring  equally 
under  the  same  disadvantage.  These  are  incidents  peculiar 
to  sudden  enterprises,  and  must  be  met  by  the  resources  of 
seamen.  The  Constitution  took  the  Guerriere  with  a  crew 
that  had  been  acting  together  but  little  more  than  a  month, 
and  she  was  manoeuvring  before  the  squadron  off  New 
York,  a  much  more  delicate  exploit,  within  five  days  of  the 
time  that  a  large  proportion  of  her  people  had  joined  her! 
Capt.  Downie's  professional  character,  as  well  as  his  decla- 
rations, as  they  have  been  published  to  the  world,  are 
sufficient  guaranties  that  he  deemed  the  Confiance  ready 
to  meet  the  enemy.  Sir  James  Yeo,  with  greater  reason, 
complained  that  this  officer  had  stood  into  the  bay  to 
make  his  attack,  a  step  that  brought  him  under  a  raking 
fire,  and  which,  no  doubt,  materially  contributed  to  the 
loss  of  the  day.  In  short,  Capt.  Downie  made  an  attempt  to 


444  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

i 

lead  into  the  hostile  squadron  bows  on,  a  measure  that  the 
English  often  practised  in  Europe,  with  comparative  impu- 
nity, but  which  was  an  experiment  imminently  hazardous 
to  make  under  the  guns  of  an  American  man-of-war.  Still 
his  bearing  was  highly  gallant;  the  weatherly  position  he 
obtained  was  much  in  his  favour;  and  judging  from  the  force 
of  his  own  vessel,  could  he  have  got  the  berth  he  aimed  at, 
there  is  great  reason  to  think  he  would  have  succeeded. 
That  he  was  foiled,  must  be  attributed  to  the  immoveable 
steadiness,  cool  deliberation,  and  admirable  fire  of  the  as- 
sailed. 

Although  many  of  the  American  officers  were  wounded, 
but  two  that  belonged  to  the  quarter  deck  were  killed. 
These  were  Mr.  Gamble,  the  1st  lieutenant  of  the  Saratoga, 
and  Mr.  Stansbury,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Ticonderoga.* 

*  The  manner  in  which  Mr.  Gamble  met  his  death,  has  been  mentioned. 
Mr.  Stansbury  suddenly  disappeared  from  the  bulwarks  forward,  while 
superintending1  some  duty  with  the  springs.  Two  days  after  the  action, 
his  body  rose  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  near  the  vessel  to  which  he  had 
belonged,  and  it  was  found  that  it  had  been  cut  in  two  by  a  round 
shot.  Both  these  gentlemen  showed  great  coolness  and  spirit,  until  they 
fell.  Many  officers  were  knocked  down  in  the  engagement,  without  hav- 
ing blood  drawn.  At  one  moment,  there  was  a  cry  in  the  Saratoga  that 
Capt.  M'Donough,  or  as  he  was  usually  called,  the  commodore,  was  killed. 
He  was  lying  on  his  face,  on  the  quarter  deck,  nearly  if  not  quite  sense- 
less, and  it  was  two  or  three  minutes  before  he  came  to  his  recollection. 
He  pointed  a  favourite  gun  most  of  the  action,  and  while  standing  in  the 
middle  of  the  deck  bending  his  body  to  sight  it,  a  shot  had  cut  in  two  the 
spanker  boom,  letting  the  spar  fall  on  his  back,  a  blow  that  might  easily 
have  proved  fatal.  A  few  minutes  after  this  accident,  the  cry  that  the  com- 
modore was  killed  was  heard  again.  This  time,  Capt.  M'Donough  was 
lying  on  the  offside  of -the  deck,  between  two  of  the  guns,  covered  with 
blood,  and  again  nearly  senseless.  A  shot  had  driven  the  head  of  the  cap- 
tain  of  his  favourite  gun  in  upon  him,  and  knocked  him  into  the  scuppers. 
Mr.  Brum,  the  master,  a  venerable  old  seaman,  while  winding  the  ship, 
had  a  large  splinter  driven  so  near  his  body,  as  actually  to  strip  off  his 
clothes.  For  a  minute  he  was  thought  to  be  dead,  but,  on  gaining  his 
feet,  he  made  an  apron  of  his  pocket  handkerchief,  and  coolly  went  to 
work  again  with  the  springs!  A  few  months  later  this  veteran  died,  as  is 


'/*  *%*        f 

WAVAL  BISTORT.  445 

Mr.  Smith,*  a  very  valuable  officer,  and  the  1st  lieutenant 
of  the  Eagle,  received  a  severe  wound,  but  returned  to  his 
quarters  during  the  action.  On  the  part  of  the  enemy,  be- 
sides Capt.  Downie,  several  officers  were  killed,  and  three 
or  four  were  wounded. 

Capt.  M'Donough,  besides  the  usual  medal  from  Con- 
gress, and  various  compliments  and  gifts  from  different 
states  and  towns,  was  promoted  for  his  services.  The  legis- 
lature of  New  York  presented  him  also  with  a  small  estate 
on  Cumberland  Head,  which  overlooked  the  scene  of 
his  triumph.  The  officers  and  crews  met  with  the  custo- 
mary acknowledgments,  and  the  country  generally  placed 
the  victory  by  the  side  of  that  of  Lake  Erie.  In  the  navy, 
which  is  better  qualified  to  enter  into  just  estimates  of 
force,  and  all  the  other  circumstances  that  enhance  the 
merits  of  nautical  exploits,  the  battle  of  Plattsburg  Bay  is 
justly  placed  among  the  very  highest  of  its  claims  to  glory. 

The  consequences  of  this  victory  were  immediate  and 
important.  During  the  action,  Sir  George  Prevost  had 
skirmished  in  front  of  the  American  works,  and  was  busy 
in  making  demonstrations  for  a  more  serious  attack.  As 
soon,  however,  as  the  fate  of  the  British  squadron  was  ascer- 
tained, he  made  a  precipitate  and  unmilitary  retreat,  aban- 
doning much  of  his  heavy  artillery,  stores  and  supplies,  and, 
from  that  moment,  to  the  end  of  the  war,  the  northern  fron- 
tier was  cleared  of  the  enemy. 

thought,  of  the  injury.  Mr,  Valletta  had  a  shot-box,  on  which  he  was 
standing,  knocked  from  under  his  feet,  and  he  too,  was  once  knocked  down 
by  the  head  of  a  seaman.  He  also  received  a  severe  splinter  wound, 
though  not  reported.  In  short,  very  few  escaped  altogether,  and  in  this 
desperate  fight,  it  appears  to  have  been  agreed  on  both  sides,  to  call  no 
man  wounded  who  could  keep  out  of  the  hospital.  Many,  who  were  not 
included  among  the  wounded,  feel  the  effects  of  their  hurts  to  this  day. 
*  Now  Capt.  Smith,  of  the  Ohio  80. 


446  NAVAE  HISTORY 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

AFTER  the  success  of  Capt.  Perry  on  Lake  Erie,  the  En- 
glish made  no  serious  effort  to  recover  the  ascendency  on 
the  upper  waters.  During  the  winter  of  1813-14,  they  are 
believed  to  have  contemplated  an  attempt  against  a  portion 
of  the  American  vessels,  which  were  lying  in  Put-in  Bay, 
but  the  enterprise  was  never  effected.  When  Com.  Sinclair 
hoisted  his  pennant,  as  commander  on  this  station,  an  expe- 
dition sailed  against  Michilimackinac,  which  was  repulsed. 
He  made  some  captures  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  North 
West  Company,  blew  up  a  block-house  in  the  Nautauwas- 
sauga,  and  compelled  the  enemy  to  destroy  a  schooner, 
called  the  Nancy,  commanded  by  Lieut  Worsley. 

While  these  movements  were  in  the  course  of  occurrence 
in  Lakes  Superior  and  Huron,  several  of  the  small  vessels 
were  kept  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Erie,  to  co-operate  with  the 
army  then  besieged  at  the  fort  of  the  same  name.  On  the 
night  of  the  12th  of  August,  the  Somers,  Ohio,  and  Por- 
cupine, all  of  which  were  under  Lieut.  Conkling,  were 
anchored  just  at  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  to  cover  the  left 
flank  of  the  American  works.  The  enemy  brought  up  a 
party  of  seamen  from  below,  with  a  view  to  cut  them  off, 
and  about  midnight  he  made  an  attack,  under  Capt.  Dobbs, 
in  six  or  eight  boats,  most  of  which  were  large  batteaux. 
The  Ohio  and  Somers  were  surprised,  the  last  being  cap- 
tured without  any  resistance,  but  the  Porcupine  taking  the 
alarm,  easily  effected  her  escape.  The  enemy  drifted  down 
the  rapids  with  their  two  prizes,  and  secured  them  below. 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  447 

In  this  sudden  and  handsome  affair,  the  Americans  had  1 
man  killed  and  10  wounded..  The  enemy  lost  about  the 
same  number,  by  the  resistance  on  board  the  Ohio,  among 
whom  was  Lieut  Radclifte,  of  the  Netley,  slain.  The  Por- 
cupine had  no  part  in  the  action.  This  surprise  was  the 
result  of  excess  of  confidence,  it  being  thought  that  the 
enemy  had  no  force  on  Lake  Erie  with  which  to  make  such 
an  attack.  The  manner  in  which  they  brought  up  the  tnen 
and  boats  from  Lake  Ontario,  for  this  purpose,  and  the 
neatness  with  which  the  enterprise  was  executed,  reflected 
great  credit  on  all  concerned. 

Nor  was  this  the  only  successful  attempt  of  the  same  na- 
ture, made  by  the  English  on  the  upper  lakes,  during  this 
season.     Lieut.  Worsley,  the  officer  who  commanded  the 
schooner  destroyed  by  Com.  Sinclair,  had  escaped  with 
all  his  men,  and  obtaining  a  party  of  soldiers  from  Michili- 
mackinac,  and  a  strong  body  of  Indians,  he  planned  a  sur- 
prise upon  the  Tigress  and  Scorpion,  two  schooners  that 
had  been  left  in  Lake  Huron  after  the  repulse  on  the  post 
just  mentioned.     The  Tigress  mounted  a  twenty-four,  had 
a  crew  of  28  men,  officers  included,  and  was  commanded 
by  Mr.  Champlin.     She  was  lying  at  St.  Josephs,  on  the 
night  of  the  3d  of  September,  when  Mr.  Worsley  made  his 
attack  in  five  large  boats,  one  of  which  mounted  a  six,  and 
another  a  three  pounder,  accompanied  by  nineteen  canoes, 
containing  more  than  200  men.   The  night  was  so  dark  that 
the  enemy  got  very  near  before  they  were  discovered,  but 
Mr.  Champlin*  and  his  officers  made  a  very  gallant  resist- 
ance.    The  schooner  was  not  captured  until  all  her  offi- 
cers had  been  shot  down.     The  guns  of  the  enemy  were 
transferred  to  the  Tigress,  and,  while  she  still  continued  in 
her  berth,  the  evening  of  the  next  day,  the  Scorpion,  Lieut. 
Turner,  which  had  been  cruising,  came  in  and  anchored 

*  Now  Commander  Champlin. 


448  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

about  five  miles  from  her..  Neither  vessel  had  signals,  anc 
there  was  no  attempt  to  communicate  that  night.  The  next 
morning,  at  day  light,  the  Tigress  was  seen  standing  down 
towards  the  Scorpion,  with  American  colours  flying,  and 
there  not  being  the  slightest  apparent  motive  to  suspect  her 
change  of  character,  she  was  permitted  to  come  close  along 
side,  when  she  fired  all  her  guns,  run  the  Scorpion  aboard, 
and  carried  her  without  difficulty.  This  surprise  was 
wholly  attributed  to  the  want  of  signals,  and  Mr.  Turner 
was  honourably  acquitted  for  the  loss  of  his  vessels.  In 
carrying  the  Tigress,  the  enemy  had  a  lieutenant  and  2  men 
killed,  and  7  men  wounded.  On  board  the  Tigress  3  men 
were  killed,  and  all  the  officers  and  3  seamen  were  wound- 
ed. The  Scorpion,  being  surprised,  made  no  resistance. 

These  little  captures,  which  were  very  creditable  to  the 
enterprise  of  the  enemy,  terminated  the  war  on  the  upper 
lakes,  the  vessels  being  shortly  after  laid  up.  During  the 
winter  of  1814-15  both  belligerents  were  building,  the  ene- 
my having  laid  down  a  second  two-decker  at  Kingston, 
while  the  Americans  prepared  to  build  two  at  the  Harbour. 
To  effect  this  purpose  in  time,  Com.  Chauncey  sent  in  a 
statement  to  the  department,  by  which  it  appears  the  ser- 
vice would  require  600  ship-carpenters,  60  ship-joiners,  120 
sawyers,  75  blacksmiths,  25  block  and  pump-makers,  10 
boat-builders,  10  spar-makers,  18  gun-carriage-makers,  16 
sail-makers,  10  armorers,  and  5  tin-men,  or  949  artisans  in 
all.  With  this  force,  Mr.  Eckford  engaged  to  put  into  the 
•water  two  ships,  to  carry  102  guns  each,  within  60  days 
from  the  time  he  commenced,  the  timber  then  standing  in  the 
forest.  The  order  was  given,  and  the  work  commenced  in 
January.  The  news  that  a  treaty  of  peace  had  been  signed 
was  received  when  one  of  these  vessels,  called  the  New  Or- 
leans, had  been  commenced  but  29  days.  She  was  then 
nearly  planked  in,  and  it  was  calculated  would  have  been  in 
the  water  in  27  days  more.  The  second  vessel  was  but  little 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  449 

behind  her,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  Com.  Chauncey  would 
have  taken  the  lake,  as  soon  as  the  navigation  opened,  with 
a  force  consisting  of  2  sail  of  the  line,  2  frigates,  2  corvettes, 
4  brigs,  and  as  many  small  craft  as  the  service  could  possi- 
bly have  required.  As  the  enemy  had  received  the  frames 
of  one  or  two  frigates  from  England,  and  had  already  begun 
to  set  them  up,  it  is  probable  that  a  frigate  would  have  been 
added  to  this  force,  by  building  her  of  the  timber  found  too 
small  for  the  heavier  ships.* 

*  Henry  Eckford,  the  justly  celebrated  builder  by  whom  all  these  prodi- 
gies in  constructing  were  performed,  was  a  native  of  Scotland.  Having 
adopted  his  art  for  a  profession,  he  came  to  the  Canadas  while  still  a  lad, 
and  passed  some  time  at  Montreal,  occupied  in  learning  his  trade.  In 
1791,  when  only  19  years  of  age,  lie  determined  to  establish  himself  in  the 
United  States,  and  crossing  from  Kingston,  he  landed  on  the  very  point, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswego,  where  17  years  later  he  set  up  the  frame  of 
the  Oneida  16,  the  first  American  vessel  of  war  that  was  ever  launched 
upon  the  lakes.  Proceeding  to  New  York,  he  got  into  business,  and  soon 
was  known  as  one  of  the  best  and  most  enterprising  ship  builders  of  that 
port.  About  the  year  1807  he  began  to  be  employed  by  government,  and 
during  the  whole  war  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  building  yards  on  Lake 
Ontario,  where,  considering  the  difficulties  with  which  he  had  to  contend, 
he  gained  great  distinction  by  his  inexhaustible  resources,  self-reliance, 
energy,  zeal,  and  the  liberal  and  enlarged  views  he  took  of  his  duties. 
After  the  war  Mr.  Eckford  resumed  his  calling  in  New  York,  building 
many  fine  frigates  for  the  South  American  States.  He  also  built  the  Ohio 
80,  for  government,  a  ship  that  it  is  said  gives  more  satisfaction  than  any 
two  decked  vessel  in  the  navy,  that  has  yet  been  tried. 

About  the  year  1829,  Mr.  Eckford  was  induced  to  go  to  Constantinople, 
to  build  some  ships  for  the  Sultan.  While  making  his  arrangements  to 
put  the  Turkish  fleet  on  a  respectable  footing,  so  far  as  ships  were  con- 
cerned, this  enterprising  and  far  sighted  builder  died  of  a-  fever. 

Henry  Eckford  was  undoubtedly  a  man  of  genius.  He  had  not  been 
thoroughly  educated  in  the  higher  branches  of  his  art,  but  he  raised  him- 
self to  a  level  of  those  who  were,  by  the  force  of  his  own  talents.  His 
notions  of  the  powers  of  a  ship,  were  just,  practical  and  entirely  free 
from  prejudices,  and  his  eye  was  as  true  as  his  judgment.  As  a  man  he 
was  greatly  respected,  and  as  a  citizen,  he  showed  a  noble  confidence  in 
the  government,  by  casting  his  whole  fortune  on  that  of  the  state,  at  a  mo- 
VOL.  II.— 38 


450  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

The  peace  put  a  stop  to  the  strife  in  ship  building,  and 
terminated  the  war  on  the  lakes.  In  this  inland  contest, 
while  the  enemy  had  been  active,  bold  and  full  of  resources, 
all  impartial  judges  will  award  the  palm  to  the  Americans. 
On  the  upper  lakes  and  on  Champlain,  the  English  had 
sought  general  actions,  and  decisive  victories  placed  the  re- 
public in  nearly  undisputed  command  of  all  those  waters. 
The  important  results  that  had  been  expected,  fully  rewarded 
this  success.  On  Lake  Ontario,  the  English  pursued  a  dif- 
ferent policy,  cautiously  avoiding  any  conflict  that  might 
prove  final,  unless  under  circumstances  that  would  ensure 
victory. 

On  Lake  Champlain  the  enemy  captured,  in  the  course  of 
the  war,  the  Eagle  and  Growler,  by  means  of  their  army. 
These  two  vessels  were  subsequently  retaken,  under  the 
names  of  the  Chubb  and  the  Finch,  and  the  whole  English 
force  was  defeated.  On  Lake  Erie,  the  success  of  the  ene- 
my was  limited  to  the  surprise  of  the  four  schooners  men- 
tioned in  this  chapter;  while  they  lost  equally  by  surprise, 
the  Detroit  and  Caledonia,  their  whole  squadron  in  action, 
and  a  schooner  on  Lake  Huron  blown  up.  On  Lake  On- 
tario, the  success  of  the  enemy  was  limited  to  the  capture 
of  the  Julia  and  Growler,  in  the  affair  of  the  10th  of  August, 
and  the  re-capture  of  the  latter  vessel  at  Oswego.  On  no 
other  occasion,  with  the  exception  of  the  gig  of  Mr.  Grego- 
ry, and  .one  boat  carrying  a  gun  and  two  cables,  did  any 
man,  or  thing,  belonging  to  the  navy  fall  into  his  hands. 
He  made  one  exceedingly  impotent  attack  on  the  Harbour, 
(previously  to  the  arrival  of  Com.  Yeo,)  was  beaten  in  a 
subsequent  attempt  on  the  same  place,  succeeded  in  taking 

ment,  when  others,  with  louder  professions  of  attachment,  were  distrust- 
ful, backward  and  untrue.  He  married  early  in  New  York,  and  left  des- 
cendants in  the  third  generation  behind  him  when  he  went  abroad  on  his 
eastern  enterprise,  intending1  to  return  to  a  home  that  had  become  en- 
deared by  the  associations  of  forty  years,  at  its  termination. 


If  AVAL  HISTORY.  451 

Oswego,  and  committed  some  ravages  at  Sodus,  and  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Genesee.  For  a  few  days  he  also  co-operated 
occasionally  with  his  army.  On  the  part  of  the  Americans,  a 
spirited  attack  was  made  on  Kingston  in  1812;  York  was 
twice  captured  in  1813,  as  was  also  Fort  George;  a  brig  was 
brought  off  from  York,  and  a  vessel  of  20  guns  burned  at 
the  same  place;  another  of  14  guns  at  Presque  Isle;  a  third 
driven  ashore  and  blown  up  to  the  westward  of  Niagara  ;  six 
gun-vessels  and  three  gun-boats,  and  many  smaller  craft 
were  captured ;  and,  at  different  times,  two  captains,  many 
other  officers,  and  several  hundred  seamen  and  marines 
were  taken.  Kingston  was  often  long  and  closely  blockaded, 
and,  with  short  and  few  exceptions,  the  Americans  had  the 
command  of  the  lake.  The  greater  age  of  the  English 
than  the  American  frontier,  as  a  settled  country,  gave  the 
enemy  material  advantages,  of  which  he  fully  availed  him- 
self. Owing  to  the  vast  resources  of  the  English  marine, 
which  throughout  the  year  1814  had  no  other  employment 
than  this  war,  Sir  James  Yeo  was  enabled  to  render  essential 
service  to  the  British  army,  beyond  a  question,  though  the 
ascendency  was  lost  during  several  of  the  most  important 
months  of  the  season.  It  ought  never  to  be  forgotten, 
moreover,  that  the  wealthier  portion  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, who,  as  a  body,  have  seldom  been  true  to  the  nation,  in 
conflicts  of  opinion  with  Great  Britain,  allowed  their  confi- 
dence in  the  public  securities  to  be  so  much  impaired,  that 
all  the  heaviest  operations  of  Com.  Chauncey  were  carried 
on  by  means  of  a  depreciated  currency;  the  securities 
that  reason  and  truth  should  have  taught  capitalists  were 
the  very  best  that  the  world  afforded,  having  been  suffered 
to  fall  into  a  discredit  that  greatly  impaired  the  efforts  of  all 
the  public  servants. 

No  officer  of  the  American  navy  ever  filled  a  station  of 
the  responsibility  and  importance  of  that  which  Com. 
Chauncey  occupied ;  and  it  may  be  justly  questioned  if  any 


. 

^A 

T| 

452  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

officer  could  have  acquitted  himself  better,  of  the  high  trust 
that  had  been  reposed  in  him.  He  commanded  the  pro- 
found respect  of  the  vigilant,  bold  and  skillful  commander 
to  whom  he  was  opposed,  and  to  the  last,  retained  the  en- 
tire confidence  of  his  own  government. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  453 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


WHEN  Com.  Bainbridge  gave  up  the  command  of  the 
Constitution  44,  in  1813,  that  ship  was  found  to  be  so  de- 
cayed as  to  require  extensive  repairs.  Her  crew  was  prin- 
cipally sent  upon  the  lakes,  a  new  one  entered,  and  the 
command  of  her  was  given  to  Capt.  Charles  Stewart.  The 
ship,  however,  was  not  able  to  get  to  sea  until  the  winter 
of  1814,  when  she  made  a  cruise  to  the  southward,  passing 
down  the  coast,  and  running  through  the  West  Indies,  on 
her  way  home,  when  she  fell  in  with  La  Pique  36,  which 
ship  made  her  escape  by  going  through  the  Mona  pas- 
sage in  the  night.  Previously  to  her  return,  the  Consti- 
tution captured  the  Pictou  14,  a  man-of-war  schooner  of 
the  enemy.  Reaching  the  American  coast,  she  was  chased 
into  Marblehead  by  two  English  frigates,  the  Junon  and 
Tenedos.  Shortly  after  she  went  to  Boston.  In  this  cruise, 
the  Constitution  made  a  few  prizes,  in  addition  to  the 
schooner. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  the  Constitution  again  left 
Boston,  and  ran  off  Bermuda,  thence  to  the  vicinity  of  Ma- 
deira, and  into  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  After  this,  she  cruis- 
ed some  time  in  sight  of  the  Rock  of  Lisbon,  making 
two  prizes,  one  of  which  was  destroyed,  and  the  other 
sent  in.  While  in  the  vicinity  of  Lisbon,  she  made  a 
large  ship  and  gave  chase,  but  before  her  courses  were 
raised,  one  of  the  prizes  just  mentioned,  was  fallen  in  with, 

38* 


454  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

and  while  securing  it,  the  strange  sail  disappeared.  This 
vessel  is  understood  to  have  been  the  Elizabeth  74,  which, 
on  her  arrival  at  Lisbon,  hearing  that  the  Constitution  was 
off  the  coast,  immediately  came  out  in  quest  of  her;  but' 
Capt.  Stewart  had  stood  to  the  southward  and  westward, 
in  quest  of  an  enemy  said  to  be  in  that  direction. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  February,  the  wind  blow- 
ing a  light  Levanter,  from  one  of  those  impulses  which 
cannot  be  explained,  finding  nothing  where  he  was,  Capt. 
Stewart  ordered  the  helm  put  up,  and  the  ship  ran  off  south- 
west, varying  her  position,  in  that  direction,  fifty  or  sixty 
miles.  At  1  P.  M.,  a  strange  sail  was  seen  on  the  larboard 
bow,  when  the  ship  hauled  up  two  or  three  points,  and 
made  sail  in  chase.  In  about  twenty  minutes,  the  stranger 
was  made  out  to  be  a  ship,  and  half  an  hour  later,  a  second 
vessel  was  seen  farther  to  leeward,  which  at  two  was  also 
ascertained  to  be  a  ship.  The  Constitution  kept  standing 
on,  all  three  vessels  on  bowlines,  until  four,  when  the 
nearest  of  the  strangers  made  a  signal  to  the  ship  to  lee- 
ward, and  shortly  after,  he  kept  away  and  ran  down  to- 
wards his  consort,  then  about  three  leagues  under  his  lee. 
The  Constitution  immediately  squared  away,  and  set  her 
studding  sails,  alow  and  aloft.  No  doubt  was  now  enter- 
tained of  the  strangers  being  enemies;  the  nearest  ship 
having  the  appearance  of  a  small  frigate,  and  the  vessel  to 
leeward  of  a  large  sloop-of-war.  The  first  was  carrying 
studding  sails  on  both  sides,  while  the  last  was  running  off 
under  short  canvass,  to  allow  her  consort  to  close.  Capt. 
Stewart  believed  it  was  their  intention  to  keep  away,  on  their 
best  mode  of  sailing,  until  night,  in  the  hope  of  escaping ; 
and  he  crowded  every  thing  that  would  draw,  with  a  view 
to  get  the  nearest  vessel  under  his  guns.  About  half  past 
four,  the  spar  proving  defective,  the  main  royal-mast  was 
carried  -away,  and  the  chase  gained.  A  few  guns  were 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  455 

now  fired,  but  finding  that  the  shot  fell  short,  the  attempt  to 
cripple  the  stranger  was  abandoned. 

Perceiving  at  half  past  five,  that  it  was  impossible  to  pre- 
vent the  enemy  from  effecting  a  junction,  the  Constitution, 
then  a  little  more  than  a  league  distant  from  the  farthest 
ship,  cleared  for  action.  Ten  minutes  later,  the  two  chases 
passed  within  hail  of  each  other,  came  by  the  wind  with 
their  heads  to  the  northward,  hauled  up  their  courses,  and 
were  evidently  clearing  to  engage.  In  a  few  minutes,  both 
ships  suddenly  made  sail,  close  by  the  wind,  in  order  to 
weather  upon  the  American  frigate,  but  perceiving  that  the 
latter  was  closing  too  fast,  they  again  hauled  up  their 
courses,  and  formed  on  the  wind,  the  smallest  ship  ahead. 

At  6  P.  M.,  the  Constitution  had  the  enemy  completely 
under  her  guns,  and  she  showed  her  ensign.  The  strangers 
answered  this  defiance,  by  setting  English  colours,  and  five 
minutes  later,  the  American  ship  ranged  up  abeam  of  the 
sternmost  vessel,  at  the  distance  of  a  cable's  length,  passing 
ahead  with  her  sails  lifting,  until  the  three  ships  formed 
nearly  an  equilateral  triangle,  the  Constitution  to  windward. 
In  this  masterly  position  the  action  commenced,  the  three 
vessels  keeping  up  a  hot  and  unceasing  fire  for  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  when  that  of  the  enemy  sensibly  slack- 
ened. The  sea  being  covered  with  an  immense  cloud  of 
smoke,  and  it  being  now  moon-light,  Capt.  Stewart  ordered 
the  cannonading  to  cease.  In  three  minutes  the  smoke  had 
blown  away,  when  the  leading  ship  of  the  enemy  was  seen 
under  the  lee-beam  of  the  Constitution,  while  the  sternmost 
was  luffing  up,  as  if  she  intended  to  tack  and  cross  her 
stern.  Giving  a  broadside  to  the  ship  abreast  of  her,  the 
American  frigate  threw  her  main  and  mizzen-top-sails,  with 
top-gallant-sails  set,  flat  back,  shook  'all  forward,  let  fly 
her  jib  sheet,  and  backed  swiftly  astern,  compelling  the 
enemy  to  fill  again  to  avoid  being  raked.  The  leading 
ship  now  attempted  to  tack,  to  cross  the  Constitution's  fore- 


456  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

foot,  when  the  latter  filled,  boarded  her  fore-tack,  shot 
ahead,  forced  her  antagonist  to  ware  under  a  raking 
broadside,  and  to  run  off  to  leeward  to  escape  from  the 
weight  of  her  fire. 

The  Constitution,  perceiving  that  the  largest  ship  was 
waring  also,  wore  in  her  turn,  and  crossing  her  stern,  raked 
her  with  effect,  though  the  enemy  came  by  the  wind  imme- 
diately, and  delivered  her  larboard  broadside,  but  as  the 
Constitution  ranged  up  close  on  her  weather-quarter,  she 
struck.  Mr.  Hoffman,  the  second  lieutenant  of  the  Consti- 
tution, was  immediately  sent  to  take  possession,  the  prize 
proving  to  be  the  British  ship  Cyane,  Capt.  Falcon. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  ship  that  had  run  to  leeward,  had 
no  intention  of  abandoning  her  consort,  but  had  been  forced 
out  of  the  combat,  by  the  crippled  condition  of  her  running 
rigging,  and  to  avoid  the  weight  of  the  Constitution's  fire. 
She  was  ignorant  of  the  fate  of  the  Cyane,  but  at  the  end 
of  about  an  hour,  having  repaired  damages,  she  hauled  up, 
and  met  the  Constitution  coming  down  in  quest  of  her.  It 
was  near  nine  before  the  two  ships  crossed  each  other  on 
opposite  tacks,  the  Constitution  to  windward,  and  exchang- 
ed broadsides.  The  English  ship  finding  her  antagonist 
too  heavy,  immediately  bore  up,  in  doing  which  she  got 
a  raking  broadside,  when  the  Constitution  boarded  her 
fore-tack  and  made  sail,  keeping  up  a  most  effective  chas- 
ing fire,  from  her  two  bow  guns,  nearly  every  shot  of 
which  told.  The  two  ships  were  so  near  each  other,  that 
the  ripping  of  the  enemy's  planks  was  heard  on  board 
the  Constitution.  The  former  was  unable  to  support  this 
long,  and  at  10  P.  M.,  he  came  by  the  wind,  fired  a 
gun  to  leeward,  and  lowered  his  ensign.  Mr.  W.  B.  Shu- 
brick,  the  third  lieutenant,  was  sent  on  board  to  take  pos- 
session, when  it  was  found  that  the  prize  was  the  Levant  18, 
the  Hon.  Capt.  Douglass. 

During  this  cruise,  the  Constitution  mounted  52  guns  ; 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  457 

and  she  had  a  complement  of  about  470,  all  told,  a  few  of 
which  were  absent  in  a  prize.  The  Cyane  was  a  frigate- 
built  ship,  that  properly  rated  24  guns,  though  she  appeared 
as  only  a  20  in  Steele's  list,  mounting  22  thirty-two-pound 
carronades  on  her  gun-deck,  and  10  eighteen-pound  carro- 
nades,  with  two  chase  guns,  on  her  quarter-deck  and  fore- 
castle, making  34  in  all.  The  Levant  was  a  new  ship, 
rating  18;  and  mounting  18  thirty-two-pound  carronades,  a 
shifting  eighteen  on  her  top-gallant  forecastle,  and  two 
chase  guns,  or  21  in  all.  There  were  found  in  the  Cyane, 
168  prisoners,  of  whom  26  were  wounded.  The  precise 
number  slain  on  board  her,  is  not  known ;  Capt.  Stewart, 
probably  judging  from  an  examination  of  the  muster-book, 
computing  it  at  12,  while  the  accounts  given  by  the  Eng- 
lish publications  differ,  some  putting  the  killed  at  only  4,  and 
others  at  6.  It  was  probably  between  the  two  estimates. 
Her  regular  crew  was  about  185,  all  told ;  and  there  is  no 
reason  to  believe  that  it  was  not  nearly,  if  not  absolutely 
full.  Capt.  Stewart  supposes  it  to  have  been  180  in  the  ac- 
tion, which  was  probably  about  the  truth.  The  Levant's 
regular  complement  is  said  to  have  been  130,  all  told ;  but 
it  appears  by  a  statement  published  in  Barbadoes,  where 
some  of  her  officers  shortly  after  went,  that  there  were 
a  good  many  supernumeraries  in  the  two  vessels,  that  were 
going  to  the  Western  Islands,  to  bring  away  a  ship  that  was 
building  there.  Capt.  Stewart  supposes  the  Levant  to  have 
had  156  men  in  the  action,  of  whom  he  believed  23  to  have 
been  killed,  and  16  wounded.  The  first  estimate  may  have 
been  too  high,  though  the  truth  can  probably  never  be 
known.  It  is  believed  that  no  English  official  account  of 
this  action,  has  ever  been  published,  but  the  Barbadoes 
statement  makes  the  joint  loss  of  the  two  ships,  10  killed, 
and  28  wounded ;  other  English  accounts  raise  it  as  high  as 
41,  in  all.  It  may  have  been  a  little  less  than  the  estimate 
of  Capt.  Stewart,  although  his  account  of  the  wounded 


458  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

must  have  been  accurate,  but  was  probably  considerably 
more  than  that  of  the  English  statements.  The  Constitu- 
tion had  3  killed,  and  12  wounded,  or  she  sustained  a  total 
loss  of  15  men.  By  1  A.  M.,  of  the  21st,  'she  was  ready 
for  another  action.  Although  it  was  more  than  three 
hours  and  a  half,  from  the  time  this  combat  commenced, 
before  the  Levant  struck,  the  actual  fighting  did  not  oc- 
cupy three-quarters  of  an  hour.  For  a  night  action,  the 
execution  on  both  sides,  was  unusual,  the  enemy  firing 
much  better  than  common.  The  Constitution  was  hulled 
oftener  in  this  engagement,  than  in  both  her  previous  bat- 
tles, though  she  suffered  less  in  her  crew,  than  in  the  com- 
bat with  the  Java.  She  had  not  an  officer  hurt. 

The  manner  in  which  Capt.  Stewart  handled  his  ship,  on 
this  occasion,  excited  much  admiration  among  nautical 
men,  it  being  an  unusual  thing  for  a  single  vessel  to  engage 
two  enemies,  and  escape  being  raked.  So  far  from  this 
occurring  to  the  Constitution,  however,  she  actually  raked 
both  her  opponents,  and  the  manner  in  which  she  backed 
and  filled  in  the  smoke,  forcing  her  two  antagonists  down 
to  leeward,  when  they  were  endeavouring  to  cross  her 
stern,  or  forefoot,  is  among  the  most  brilliant  manoeuvring 
in  naval  annals. 

It  is  due  to  a  gallant  enemy  to  say,  that  Capt.  Douglass 
commanded  the  respect  of  the  Americans,  by  his  intrepid 
perseverance  in  standing  by  his  consort.  Although  the 
attempt  might  not  have  succeeded,  the  time  necessarily 
lost  in  securing  the  Cyane,  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  en- 
deavour to  escape,  that  he  nobly  refused  to  improve. 

Capt.  Stewart  proceeded  with  his  two  prizes  to  Port 
Praya,  where  he  arrived  on  the  10th  of  March.  Here  a 
vessel  was  engaged  as  a  cartel,  and  more  than  a  hundred 
of  the  prisoners  were  landed  with  a  view  to  help  fit  her  for 
sea.  Saturday,  March  llth,  1815,  a  little  after  meridian, 
while  a  cutter  was  absent  to  bring  the  cartel  under  the 


1CAVAL  HISTORY.  459 

stern  of  the  frigate,  Mr.  Shubrick,  then  the  first  lieutenant  of 
the  Constitution,*  was  walking  the  quarter-deck,  when  his 
attention  was  attracted  by  a  hurried  exclamation  from  an 
English  midshipman,  that  a  large  ship  was  in  the  offing. 
A  severe  reprimand,  in  a  low  tone,  from  one  of  the  Eng- 
lish captains,  followed;  and  on  looking  over  the  quarter, 
the  subject  of  this  little  interruption  was  ascertained.  The 
sea  was  covered  with  a  heavy  fog,  near  the  water,  and 
there  was  a  good  deal  of  haze  above,  but  in  the  latter, 
the  sails  of  a  large  ship  were  visible.  She  was  on  a  wind, 
looking  in-shore,  and  evidently  stretching  towards  the 
roads.  Examining  the  stranger,  Mr.  Shubrick  went  below 
and  reported  the  fact  to  Capt.  Stewart.  This  officer  coolly 
remarked  that  it  was  probably  an  English  frigate,  or  an 
India  man,  and  directed  the  lieutenant  to  return  on  deck, 
call  all  hands,  and  get  ready  to  go  out  and  attack  her.  As 
soon  as  this  order  was  given,  the  officer  took  a  new 
look  at  the  stranger,  when  he  discovered  the  canvass  of  two 
other  ships  rising  above  the  bank  of  fog,  in  the  same  direc- 
tion. They  were  evidently  heavy  men-of-war,  and  Capt. 
Stewart  was  immediately  apprised  of  the  fresh  discovery. 
That  prompt  and  decided  officer,  did  not  hesitate  an  instant 
concerning  the  course  he  ought  to  take,  well  knowing  that 
the  English  would  disregard  the  neutrality  of  any  port  that 
had  not  force  enough  to  resist  them,  or  which  did  not  be- 
long to  a  nation  they  were  obliged  to  respect.  He  imme- 
diately made  a  signal  for  the  prizes  to  follow,  and  ordered 
the  Constitution's  cable  to  be  cut.  In  10  minutes  after  this 
order  was  issued,  and  in  14  after  the  first  ship  had  been 
seen,  the  American  frigate  was  standing  out  of  the  roads, 
under  her  three  top-sails. 

The  cool  and  officer-like  manner  in  which  sail  was  made 
and  the  ship  cast,  has  been  much  extolled,  not  an  instant 

*  Messrs.  Ballard  and  Hoffman  being  in  the  prizes. 


460  NAVAL  HISTORy. 

being  lost  by  hurry  or  confusion.  The  prizes  followed 
with  promptitude.  The  north-east  trades  were  blowing, 
and  the  three  vessels  passed  out  to  sea  about  gun-shot 
to  windward  of  the  hostile  squadron,  just  clearing  East 
Point..  As  the  Constitution  weathered  the  land,  she  cross- 
ed top-gallant-yards,  boarded  her  tacks,  and  set  all  the 
light  sails  that  would  draw.  The  English  prisoners  on 
shore,  took  possession  of  a  battery,  and  fired  at  her  as  she 
went  out.  As  soon  as  the  American  ships  had  gained  the 
weather-beam  of  the  enemy,  the  latter  tacked,  and  the  six 
vessels  stood  off  to  the  southward  and  eastward,  carrying 
every  thing  that  would  draw,  and  going  about  ten  knots. 

The  fog  still  lay  so  thick  upon  the  water  as  to  conceal 
the  hulls  of  the  strangers,  but  they  were  supposed  to  be  two 
line-of-battle  ships,  and  a  large  frigate,  the  vessel  most 
astern  and  to  leeward,  being  the  commodore.  The  frigate 
weathered  on  all  the  American  ships,  gaining  on  the  Le- 
vant and  Cyane,  but  falling  astern  of  the  Constitution,  while 
the  two  larger  vessels,  on  the  latter's  lee-quarter,  held  way 
with  her.  As  soon  as  clear  of  the  land,  the  Constitution 
cut  adrift  two  boats  astern,  the  enemy  pressing  her  too 
hard  to  allow  of  their  being  hoisted  in.  The  Cyane  was 
gradually  dropping  astern  and  to  leeward,  rendering  it  cer- 
tain, if  she  stood  on,  that  the  most  weatherly  of  the  enemy's 
vessels  would  soon  be  along  side  of  her;  and  at  10  minutes 
past  one,  Capt.  Stewart  made  a  signal  for  her  to  tack.  This 
order  was  obeyed  by  Mr.  Hoffman,  the  prize-master;  and 
it  was  now  expected  that  one  of  the  enemy's  ships  would  go 
about,  and  follow  her,  a  hope  that  was  disappointed.  The 
Cyane  finding  that  she  was  not  pursued,  stood  on  until  she 
was  lost  in  the  fog,  when  Mr.  Hoffman  tacked  again,  an- 
ticipating that  the  enemy  might  chase  him  to  leeward. 
This  prudent  officer  improved  his  advantage,  by  keeping  to 
windward  long  enough  to  allow  the  enemy  to  get  ahead, 
should  they  pursue  him,  when  he  squared  away  for  Ame- 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  461 

rica,  arriving  safely  at  New  York,  on  the  10th  of  April 
following. 

The  three  ships  of  the  enemy  continued  to  chase  the  Con- 
stitution and  Levant.  As  the  vessek  left  the  land  the  fog 
lessened,  though  it  still  lay  so  dense  on  the  immediate  sur- 
face of  the  ocean,  as  to  leave  Capt.  Stewart  in  doubt  as 
to  the  force  of  his  pursuers.  The  English  officers  on  board 
the  Constitution  affirmed  that  the  vessel  that  was  getting 
into  her  wake  was  the  Acasta  40,  Capt.  Kerr,  a  twenty-four 
pounder  ship,  and  it  was  thought  that  the  three  .were  a 
squadron  that  was  cruising  for  the  President,  Peacock  and 
Hornet,  consisting  of  the  Leander  50,  Sir  George  Collier, 
Newcastle  50,  Lord  George  Stuart,  and  the  Acasta,  the 
ships  that  they  subsequently  proved  to  be.  The  Newcastle 
was  the  vessel  on  the  lee-quarter  of  the  Constitution,  and  by 
half  past  two  the  fog  had  got  so  low,  that  her  officers  were 
seen  standing  on  the  hammock-cloths,  though  the  line  of  her 
ports  was  not  visible.  She  now  began  to  fire  by  divisions, 
and  some  opinion  could  be  formed  of  her  armament,  by  the 
flashes  of  her  guns,  through  the  fog.  Her  shot  struck  the 
water  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  American  ship,  but  did 
not  rise  again.  By  3  P.  M.,  the  Levant  had  fallen  so  far 
astern,  that  she  was  in  the  very  danger  from  which  the 
Cyane  had  so  lately  been  extricated,  and  Capt.  Stewart  made 
her  signal  to  tack  also.  Mr.  Ballard  immediately  complied, 
and  7  minutes  later  the  three  English  ships  tacked,  by  sig- 
nal, and  chased  the  prize,  leaving  the  Constitution  steering 
in  a  different  direction  at  the  rate  of  eleven  knots. 

Mr.  Ballard  finding  the  enemy  bent  on  following  the  Le- 
vant, the  Acasta  being  to  windward  of  her  wake,  ran  back 
into  Port  Praya,  and  anchored,  at  4  o'clock,  within  150 
yards  of  the  shore,  under  a  strong  battery.  The, enemy's 
ships  had  commenced  firing,  as  soon  as  it  was  seen  that  the 
Levant  would  gain  the  anchorage,  and  all  three  now  open- 
ing on  the  prize.  After  bearing  the  fire  for  a  considerable 

VOL.  II.— 39 


462  TTAVAL  HISTORY. 

time  her  colours  were  hauled  down.  No  one  was  hurt  in 
the  Levant,  Mr.  Ballard  causing  his  men  to  lie  on  the  deck, 
as  soon  as  the  ship  was  anchored.  The  English  prisoners 
in  the  battery,  also  fired  at  the  Levant. 

Sir  George  Collier  was  much  criticised  for  the  course  he 
pursued  on  this  occasion.  It  was  certainly  a  mistake  to  call 
off  more  than  one  ship  to  chase  the  Levant,  though  the  po- 
sition of  the  Leander  in  the  fog,  so  far  to  leeward  and 
astern,  did  not  give  the  senior  officer  the  best  opportuni- 
ties for  observing  the  course  of  events.  There  was  cer- 
tainly every  prospect  of  the  Acasta's  bringing  the  Constitu- 
tion to  action  in  the  course  of  the  night,  though  the  other 
vessels  might  have  been  left  so  far  astern,  as  still  to  render 
the  result  doubtful. 

Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  management  of  the 
enemy,  there  can  be  but  one  opinion  of  that  of  Capt.  Stew- 
art. The  promptitude  with  which  he  decided  on  his  course, 
the  judgment  with  which  he  ordered  the  prizes  to  vary  their 
courses,  and  the  steadiness  with  which  the  Constitution  was 
commanded,  aided  in  elevating  a  professional  reputation 
that  was  already  very  high. 

This  terminated  the  exploits  of  the  gallant  Constitution, 
or  Old  Ironsides,  as  she  was  affectionately  called  in  the 
navy,  Capt.  Stewart,  after  landing  his  prisoners  at  Maran- 
harn,  and  learning  at  Porto  Rico,  that  peace  had  been  made, 
carrying  her  into  New  York,  about  the  middle  of  May. 
In  the  course  of  two  years  and  nine  months,  this  ship  had 
been  in  three  actions,  had  been  twice  critically  chased,  and 
had  captured  five  vessels  of  war,  two  of  which  were  frigates, 
and  a  third  frigate-built.  In  all  her  service,  as  well  before 
Tripoli,  as  in  this  war,  her  good  fortune  was  remarkable. 
She  never  was  dismasted,  never  got  ashore,  or  scarcely 
ever  suffered  any  of  the  usual  accidents  of  the  sea.  Though 
so  often  in  battle,  no  very  serious  slaughter  ever  took  place 
on  board  her.  One  of  her  commanders  was  wounded,  and 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  463 

four  of  her  lieutenants  had  been  killed,  two  on  her  own 
decks,  and  two  in  the  Intrepid;  but,  on  the  whole,  her  entire 
career  had  been  that  of  what  is  usually  called  a  '«  lucky 
ship."  Her  fortune,  however,  may  perhaps  be  explained 
in  the  simple  fact,  that  she  had  always  been  well  command- 
ed. In  her  two  last  cruises  she  had  probably  possessed  as 
fine  a  crew  as  ever  manned  a  frigate.  They  were  princi- 
pally New  England  men,  and  it  has  been  said  of  them,  that 
they  were  almost  qualified  to  fight  the  ship  without  her 
officers. 


464  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


WHEIV  Com.  Rodgers  left  the  President,  in  the  summer 
of  1814,  to  take  command  of  the  Guerriere,  Com.  Decatur 
\vas  transferred  to  that  ship,  the  United  States  and  Mace- 
donian, then  blockaded  in  the  Thames,  having  been  laid  up, 
and  the  Hornet,  Capt.  Biddle,  left  to  protect  them.  This 
service  was  particularly  irksome  to  an  officer  of  the  spirit 
of  the  last  named  gentleman,  and  persevering  in  his  applica- 
tions to  be  released  from  it,  he  finally  received  an  order  to 
join  Com.  Decatur  at  New  York,  where  the  President  had 
been  some  time  detained  to  make  part  of  the  defence  of  the 
port,  while  the  enemy  was  committing  his  depredations  on 
the  coast,  during  the  mild  weather.  No  sooner  did  Capt. 
Biddle  receive  this  welcome  command,  than  he  took  the  first 
favourable  occasion  to  pass  out,  leaving  the  blockading 
squadron  to  the  eastward,  arid  ran  down  to  New  York. 
This  was  in  the  month  of  November,  1814,  and  Com.  De- 
catur had  now  a  force  consisting  of  the  President  44,  his 
own  ship,  Peacock  18,  Capt.  Warrington,  Hornet  18,  Capt. 
Biddle,  and  Tom  Bowline  store-vessel.  His  destination  was 
the  East  Indies,  where  it  was  .thought  great  havoc  might 
be  made  among  the  valuable  trade  of  the  English. 

Owing  to  different  causes,  but  principally  to  the  wish  of 
the  government  to  keep  a  force  at  New  York  to  resist  the 
depredations  of  the  enemy,  Com.  Decatur  did  not  get  to  sea 
until  the  middle  of  January  1815.  The  President  dropped 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  465 

down  to  Sandy  Hook  alone,  leaving  the  other  vessels  lying 
at  Staten  Island,  and  on  the  night  of  the  14th,  she  made  an 
attempt  to  cross  the  bar.  In  consequence  of  the  darkness,  the 
pilots  missed  the  channel  and  the  ship  struck,  beating  heavily 
on  the  sands,  for  an  hour  and  a  half.  About  10  o'clock  the 
tide  had  risen  to  its  height,  and  she  was  forced  into  deep 
water.  Although  the  vessel  had  received  considerable  in- 
jury, it  was  impossible  to  return,  and  a  strong  blockading 
force  being  in  the  offing,  it  became  necessary  to  carry  sail 
to  get  off  the  coast  before  morning.  It  had  blown  a  gale 
the  previous  day,  and  Com.  Decatur,  rightly  judging  that 
the  enemy  had  been  driven  to  leeward,  decided  to  run  along 
the  land  to  the  northward  and  eastward,  as  the  best  means  of 
avoiding  a  greatly  superior  force.  This  determination  was 
judicious,  and,  had  not  the  detention  occurred  on  the  bar,  it 
would  have  been  completely  successful.  After  running  off 
in  a  north-eastern  direction  for  about  5  hours,  the  course  of 
the  ship  was  altered  to  S.  E.  by  E.  Two  hours  later,  a 
strange  sail  was  discovered  ahead,  and  within  gun  shot,  and 
two  others  being  soon  after  seen,  the  President  hauled  up 
and  passed  to  the  northward  of  them  all.  At  day  light,  four 
ships  were  seen  in  chase,  one  on  each  quarter  and  two 
astern.  The  nearest  vessel  was  believed  to  be  the  Majestic 
rase*e,  which  fired  a  broadside  or  two,  in  the  hope  of  crip- 
pling the  American  frigate,  but  without  effect.  It  is  now 
known,  that  the  enemy  had  been  driven  down  by  the  gale, 
and  that  he  was  just  returning  to  his  station,  when  this  un- 
lucky encounter  occurred. 

The  chase  continued  throughout  the  forenoon,  the  wind 
becoming  lighter  and  baffling.  The  rase"e  was  dropped  mate- 
rially, but  the  next  nearest  ship,  the  Endymion40,  a  twenty- 
four  pounder  frigate,  had  closed,  and  as  the  President  was 
very  deep,  being  filled  with  stores  for  a  long  cruise,  Com. 
Decatur  commenced  lightening  her.  Unfortunately,  the  com- 
mander, all  the  lieutenants  and  the  master  were  strangers, 

39* 


466  ITAVAL  HISTORY. 

in  one  sense,  to  the  ship,  most  of  them  never  having  been  at 
sea  in  her  at  all,  and  neither  in  any  responsible  situation. 
The  duty  of  lightening  a  ship  in  chase,  is  one  of  the  most 
delicate  operations  in  seamanship,  and  it  ought  never  to  be 
attempted  except  by  those  perfectly  acquainted  with  her 
lines,  trim  and  stowage.  Half  a  dozen  more  water  casks 
emptied  at  one  end  of  the  vessel  than  at  the  other  may  in- 
jure her  sailing,  and  the  utmost  care  is  to  be  observed  lest 
the  indiscretion  of  inferiors  in  the  hold,  defeat  the  calcula- 
tions of  the  commander  on  deck.  On  the  other  band,  Com. 
Decatur  decided  to  undertake  this  delicate  operation  under 
the  most  favourable  circumstances  that  a  want  of  famili- 
arity with  his  ship  would  allow,  as  the  wind  was  getting  to 
be  light,  and  was  nearly  aft. 

It  is  not  known,  however,  that  the  sailing  of  the  Presi- 
dent was  at  all  injured  by  the  process  of  lightening,  for  the 
enemy  obtained  a  material  advantage  by  a  change  in  the 
wind.  While  it  was  still  light  with  the  American  ship,  the 
British,  about  3  P.  M.,  were  bringing  down  with  them  a 
fresh  breeze.  Soon  after,  the  Endymion,  the  nearest  ves- 
sel, having  got  within  reach  of  shot,  opened  with  her  bow 
guns,  the  President  returning  the  fire  with  her  stern 
chasers.  The  object  of  each,  was  to  cripple  the  spars  of 
the  other.  It  is  said,  that  on  this  occasion,  the  shot  of  the 
American  ship  were  observed  to  be  thrown  with  a  momen- 
tum so  unusually  small,  as  to  have  since  excited  much  dis- 
trust of  the  quality  of  her  powder.  It  is  even  added,  that 
many  of  these  shot  were  distinctly  seen,  when  clear  of  the 
smoke,  until  they  struck. 

By  5  P.  M.,  the  Endymion  had  got  so  far  on  the  star- 
board, or  lee  quarter  of  the  President,  that  no  gun  of  the 
latter  would  bear  on  her,  without  altering  the  course.  The 
fire  of  the  English  ship  now  became  exceedingly  annoying, 
for  she  was  materially  within  point  blank  range,  and  every 
shot  cut  away  something  aloft.  Still  it  was  borne,  in  the 
hope  that  she  -would  range  up  along  side,  and  give  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  467 

President  an  opportunity  to  lay  her  aboard.  Finding,  how- 
ever, that  the  enemy  warily  kept  his  position  by  yawing, 
in  the  hope  of  gradually  crippling  the  American  ship,  Com. 
Decatur  decided  on  a  course  that  singularly  partook  of  the 
daring  chivalry  of  his  character. 

It  was  evident  that  the  sailing  of  the  President  was  much 
impaired,  either  by  injuries  received  on  the  bar,  or  by  the 
manner  in  which  she  had  been  lightened,  and  escape  by 
flight  had  become  nearly  hopeless.  Com.  Decatur,  there- 
fore, determined  to  make  an  effort  to  exchange  ships,  by 
carrying  the  Endymion,  hand  to  hand,  and  to  go  off  in  the 
prize,  abandoning  his  own  vessel  to  the  enemy.  With  this 
object  in  view,  he  determined  to  keep  away,  lay  the  enemy 
aboard,  if  possible,  and  put  every  thing  on  the  success  of 
the  experiment.  The  plan  was  communicated  to  the  peo- 
ple, who  received  it  cheerfully,  and  just  at  dusk,  the  helm 
of  the  President  was  put  up,  bringing  the  wind  over  the 
taffrail,  the  ship  heading  south.  But  she  was  so  closely 
watched,  that  the  Endymion  kept  away  at  the  same  mo- 
ment, and  the  two  ships  soon  came  abeam  of  each  other, 
when  both  delivered  their  broadsides.  The  President's  at- 
tempts to  close,  however,  were  defeated,  for  the  vessels 
were  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  apart,  and  as  she  hauled 
nearer  to  the  enemy,  the  latter  sheered  away  from  her. 
Without  a  superiority  in  sailing,  it  was  impossible  for  Com. 
Decatur  to  get  on  board  his  enemy,  while  the  latter  chose 
to  avoid  him,  and  he  was  now  reduced  to  the  necessity  of 
attempting  to  get  rid  of  the  Endymion  by  dismantling  her. 
The  two  frigates,  consequently,  continued  running  off  dead 
before  the  wind,  keeping  up  a  heavy  cannonade  for  two 
hours  and  a  half,  when  the  Endymion  was  so  far  injured 
that  she  fell  astern,  most  of  her  sails  having  been  cut  from 
the  yards.  The  President,  at  this  moment,  was  under  her 
royal  studding  sails,  and  there  is  no  doubt,  by  choosing 
her  position,  she  might  easily  have  compelled  her  adver- 


468  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

sary  to  strike;  but,  by  this  time,  though  the  night  was  dark, 
the  vessels  astern  were  in  sight,  and  she  was  obliged  to  re- 
sume her  original  course  to  avoid  them.  In  doing  this,  the 
President  hauled  up  under  the  broadside  of  her  late  antago- 
nist, without  receiving  any  fire  to  injure  her. 

It  was  now  half  past  eight,  and  the  President  continued 
to  run  off  south-east,  repairing  damages,  but  it  was  found 
impossible  to  prevent  the  other  vessels  of  the  enemy  from 
closing.  At  11  P.  M.,  the  Pomone  38,  got  on  the  weather 
bow  of  the  American  ship,  and  poured  in  a  broadside;  and 
as  the  Tenedos,  of  the  same  force,  was  fast  closing  on 
the  quarter,  and  the  Majestic  was  within  gun-shot  astern, 
further  resistance  was  useless.  Com.  Decatur  had  ordered 
his  people  below,  when  he  saw  the  two  last  frigates  closing, 
but  finding  that  his  signal  of  submission  was  not  at  first  un- 
derstood, the  Pomone  continuing  to  fire,  an  order  was  given 
for  them  to  retunn  to  their  guns,  when  the  enemy  ceased. 
The  Majestic  coming  up  before  the  removal  of  Com.  De- 
catur, that  officer  delivered  his  sword  to  her  captain,  who 
was  the  senior  English  officer  present. 

In  this  long  and  close  cannonade,  agreeably  to  the  offi- 
cial reports,  the  President  lost  24  men  killed,  and  56 
wounded.  She  was  a  good  deal  injured  in  her  hull,  and 
most  of  her  important  spars  were  badly  damaged.  By  one 
of  those  chances  which  decide  the  fortunes  of  men,  among 
the»  slain  were  the  first,  fourth  and  fifth  lieutenants.* 

*  Messrs.  Babbitt,  Hamilton,  and  Howell.  Mr.  Fitz-Henry  Babbitt  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  good,  although  an  unfortunate  officer ; 
this  being  the  second  time,  in  which,  as  a  first  lieutenant,  he  had  been 
captured  during  this  war,  when  a  few  hours  out  of  New  York.  He  was 
standing  on  the  coamings  of  the  after-hatch,  working  the  ship,  Com.  De- 
catur being  seated  on  the  hammock-cloths  giving  directions,  when  the 
Endymion's  first  broadside  was  received.  A  twenty-four-pound  shot 
struck  Mr.  Babbitt  on  the  knee,  and  he  fell  down  the  hatch,  fractur- 
ing his  skull  by  the  fall.  He  died  in  half  an  hour.  An  order  was  sent 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  469 

The  Endymion  had  11  killed,  and  14  wounded,  accord- 
ing to  the  published  reports.  As  it  is  known  that  an  order 
was  given  to  aim  at  the  rigging  and  spars  of  this  ship,  with 
a  view  to  cripple  her,  which  was  effectually  done,  it  is  pro- 
bable that  this  statement  was  accurate.  It  is  believed, 
however,  on  respectable  authority,  that  a  great  many  shot 
hulled  the  Endymion,  which  did  not  penetrate,  a  fact  which, 
coupled  with  other  observations  made  during  the  day,  has 
induced  a  distrust  of  the  quality  of  the  President's  powder. 
Owing  to  one,  or  to  both,  the  circumstances  named,  the  Eng- 
lish ship  lost  but  about  a  third  as  many  men  as  the  Ame- 
rican, though  a  considerable  number  of  the  President's 
people  were  killed  and  wounded  by  the  unresisted  fire  of 
the  Pomone,  having  been  ordered  back  to  the  guns  before 
the  latter  ceased. 

The  President  was  carried  to  Bermuda,  and  both  she 
and  the  Endymion  were  dismasted  in  a  gale,  before  reach- 
ing port.  The  latter  also  threw  overboard  her  upper-deck 
guns.  Com.  Decatur  was  shortly  after  parolled,  and  he 
and  all  his  surviving  officers  and  men,  were  subsequently 
acquitted,  with  honour,  for  the  loss  of  the  ship.  An  unhand- 
some attempt  was  at  first  made,  on  the  part  of  some  of  the 
English  publications,  to  raise  an  impression  that  the  Presi- 
dent had  been  captured  by  the  Endymion,  but  the  facts 
were  too  notorious  to  allow  it  to  succeed.  Nothing  would 
have  been  easier  than  for  the  President  to  have  chosen  her 

below  for  Mr.  John  Templar  Shubrick,  the  second  lieutenant,  to  come  on 
deck  and  take  the  trumpet.  As  this  gentleman  passed  aft,  on  the  gun- 
deck,  he  asked  Mr.  Hamilton,  who  commanded  the  after-guns,  and  who 
was  his  townsman,  how  he  was  getting  on.  While  in  the  act  of  making 
a  cheerful  reply,  the  latter  was  nearly  cut  in  two,  by  a  heavy  shot.  Mr. 
Hamilton  was  from  South  Carolina,  and  a  son  of  a  former  Secretary  of 
the  Navy.  Mr.  Howell,  a  son  of  the  late  Gov.  Howell,  of  New  Jersey, 
was  killed  on  the  quarter-deck,  by  a  spent  grape-shot,  which  fractured 
his  skull. 


470  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

position,  when  she  left  the  Endymion,  and  probably  to  have 
captured  her  without  any  material  additional  loss  to  her- 
self, since  a  ship  virtually  without  canvass,  would  evidently 
have  been  at  the  mercy  of  one  that  went  out  of  action  with 
royal-studding-sails  set.  The  difference  in  loss  between 
the  two  ships  is  easily  explained.  The  first  two  or  three 
broadsides,  are  usually  the  destructive  broadsides.  The 
President  suffered  more  in  the  first  half  hour  she  was  en- 
gaged with  the  Endymion,  than  in  the  succeeding  two 
hours ;  and  this  was  the  time  when  her  own  fire  was  directed 
at  her  antagonist's  spars,  The  fact  that  the  Endymion  did 
not  join  the  other  ships  until  three  or  four  hours  after  the 
President  struck,  when,  if  able  to  have  done  so,  there  was 
every  motive  for  her  to  have  acted  otherwise,  is  perfectly 
conclusive  as  to  the  condition  of  the  two  vessels,  so  far  as 
the  power  of  motion  was  concerned.  Having  the  power 
of  motion,  by  bringing  a  fresh  broadside  to  bear  on  the  En- 
dymion, her  capture  would  have  been  made  certain,  a  well 
conditioned  frigate  seldom  lying  long  near  an  adversary, 
without  making  a  serious  impression  on  her  hull,  when 
the  latter  is  not  able  to  return  her  fire.* 

The  commanders  of  the  Peacock,  Hornet  and  Tom  Bow- 
line brig,  ignorant  of  the  capture  of  the  President,  followed 
her  to  sea,  about  the  22d,  taking  advantage  of  a  strong 
northwester,  to  pass  the  bar  by  day-light.  The  enemy 
were  seen  lying-to  at  the  southward  and  eastward,  but  was 
disregarded.  A  few  days  out  the  Hornet  parted  company 
in  chase  of  a  neutral,  when  all  three  vessels  made  the  best 
of  their  way  to  the  island  of  Tristan  d'Acunha,  the  place  of 
rendezvous  appointed  by  Com.  Decatur.  The  Peacock  a-nd 
Tom  Bowline  arrived  about  the  middle  of  March,  but  bad 
weather  coming  on,  they  were  driven  off  the  land.  On  the 

*  The  Macedonian,  a  merchant  brig,  that  sailed  in  company  with  the 
President,  easily  escaped. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  471 

morning  of  the  23d  of  the  same  month,  the  Hornet  came  in, 
with  the  wind  fresh  at  S.  S.  W.,  and  was  about  to  anchor, 
having  let  go  her  top-sail  sheets  to  clew  up,  when  the  men 
aloft  discovered  a  sail  to  windward.  The  stranger  was 
standing  to  the  westward,  and  was  soon  shut  in  by  the  land. 
Capt.  Biddle  immediately  sheeted  home  his  topsails  again, 
and  made  a  stretch  to  windward,  and  towards  the  chase, 
which  was  shortly  after  seen  running  down  before  the  wind. 
There  being  little  doubt  as  to  the  character  of  the  stranger, 
the  Hornet  hove-to,  in  waiting  for  him  to  come  down,  and 
when  he  had  got  near  enough  to  render  it  prudent,  the 
main-topsail  was  filled,  and  the  ship  was  kept  yawing,  oc- 
casionally waring,  both  to  allow  him  to  close  and  to  prevent 
his  giving  a  raking  fire. 

At  1  40  P.  M.,  the  stranger  having  got  within  musket 
shot,  came  to  the  wind,  set  English  colours  and  fired  a  gun. 
On  this  challenge,  the  Hornet  luffed  up,  showed  her  ensign, 
and  returned  a  broadside.  For  15  minutes  both  vessels 
kept  up  a  sharp  cannonade,  that  of  the  American  ship,  in 
particular,  being  very  animated  and  destructive,  the  enemy 
gradually  drifting  nearer,  when  the  latter,  finding  it  impos- 
sible to  stand  the  Hornet's  fire,  put  his  helm  up  and  ran 
down  directly  on  the  starboard  broadside  of  the  latter,  to 
lay  her  aboard.  The  enemy's  bowsprit  came  in  between 
the  main  and  mizzen  rigging  of  the  Hornet,  affording  a  per- 
fectly good  opportunity  to  attempt  effecting  his  purpose, 
but,  though  his  1st  lieutenant  made  a  gallant  effort  to  lead 
on  his  men,  the  latter  could  not  be  induced  to  follow.  Capt. 
Biddle  had  called  away  boarders  to  repel  boarders,  and  they 
now  manifested  a  strong  wish  to  go  into  the  English  vessel, 
but  perceiving  his  great  advantage  at  the  guns,  that  intrepid 
officer,  who  had  been  so  free  to  adopt  this  expedient,  when 
it  was  his  duty  to  lead  in  his  own  person,  judiciously  re- 
fused his  permission. 

The  vessels  lay  in  this  position  but  a  minute  or  two,  the 


472  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

American  raking,  when  the  sea  lifted  the  Hornet  ahead, 
carrying  away  her  mizzen-rigging,  davits  and  spanker 
boom,  the  enemy  swinging  round  and  hanging  on  the  lar- 
board quarter.  At  this  moment,  Capt.  Biddle  sent' the  mas- 
ter forward  to  set  the  foresail,  with  a  view  to  part  the 
vessels,  when  an  officer  on  board  the  English  ship  called  out 
that  she  surrendered.  The  positions  prevented  any  other 
firing  than  that  of  small  arms;  this  was  ordered  to  cease, 
and  Capt.  Biddle  sprang  upon  the  taffrail  to  inquire  if  the  ene- 
my submitted.  He  was  within  thirty  feet  of  the  forecastle  of 
the  English  vessel,  when  two  marines  on  board  her  dis- 
charged their  muskets  at  him.  The  ball  of  one  just  missed  the 
chin  and  passing  through  the  skin  of  the  neck,  inflicted  a 
severe,  but  fortunately  not  a  dangerous  wound.  This  inci- 
dent drew  a  discharge  of  muskets  from  the  Hornet,  which 
killed  the  two  marines;  the  American  ship  ,drew  ahead  at 
that  instant,  and  the  enemy  lost  his  bowsprit  and  foremast 
as  the  vessels  separated. 

The  Hornet  now  wore  round,  with  a  fresh  broadside  to 
bear,  and  was  about  to  throw  in  a  raking  fire,  when  twenty 
men  appeared  at  the  side  and  on  the  forecastle  of  the  ene- 
my, raising  their  hands  for  quarter,  and  eagerly  calling  out 
that  they  had  struck.  The  excitement  on  board  the  Amer- 
ican ship,  however,  was  so  great,  in  consequence  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  their  gallant  captain  had  received  his  wound, 
that  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  Capt.  Biddle  and  his 
officers  could  prevent  the  people  from  pouring  in  another 
broadside.* 

The  prize  was  H.  B.  Majesty's  brig  the  Penguin  18, 
mounting  19  carriage  guns;  viz.,  16  thirty-two  pound  car- 
ronades,  two  chase  guns,  and  a  shifting  carronade  on  the 
top-gallant  forecastle.  She  was  a  vessel  of  the  Hornet's 

*  Though  this  feeling  was  natural,  the  wound  of  Capt.  Biddle  was 
probably  the  result  of  one  of  those  accidental  occurrences,  which  are  in- 
evitable in  the  confusion  of  a  combat. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  473 

class,  size  and  metal,  and  is  represented  as  having  had  a 
spare  port  forward,  by  means  of  which  she  could  fight  ten 
guns  in  broadside.*  Her  complement  of  men  was  132,  of 
whom  12  had  been  put  on  board  her  for  the  express  pur- 
pose of  engaging  a  very  heavy  American  privateer  called 
the  Young  Wasp,  a  fact  that  is  known  by  a  letter  found  in 
her,  from  the  Admiral  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  to  which 
station  the  Penguin  belonged.  Capt.  Biddle  stated  the  loss 
of  his  prize  at  14  killed  and  28  wounded.  As  respects  the 
latter,  there  could  be  no  mistake,  though  it  was  the  opinion 
of  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  prize,  that  more  men  had  been 
slain.  Some  time  previously  to  this  capture,  the  enemy 
had  ceased  to  publish  the  official  accounts  of  his  nautical 
defeats,  but  a  letter,  purporting  to  be  the  one  written  on  this 
occasion,  has  found  its  way  before  the  world,  in  which  the 
English  loss  is  stated  at  only  10  killed  and  28  wounded. 
The  Penguin  was  completely  riddled  with  the  Hornet's  shot, 
lost  her  foremast  and  bowsprit,  and  her  mainmast  was  too 
much  injured  to  be  secured.  Among  her  slain  was  her  com- 
mander, Capt.  Dickenson,  and  the  boatswain;  and  among 
the  wounded  a  lieutenant,  two  midshipmen,  and  the  purser. 

The  Hornet  had  but  1  man  killed  and  10  wounded. 
Among  the  latter,  in  addition  to  Capt.  Biddle,  was  the  1st 
lieutenant,  Mr.  Conner,!  a  young  officer  of  high  promise, 
whose  life  was  considered  in  great  danger  for  some  time. 
Not  a  round  shot  touched  the  Hornet's  hull,  nor  did  her 
spars  receive  any  material  injury,  though  she  was  a  good 
deal  cut  up  in  her  rigging  and  sails. 

The  combat  between  the  Hornet  and  the  Penguin  was  one 

*  On  an  accurate  computation  of  the  real  (not  nominal)  metal  of  the  two 
vessels,  the  Hornet  would  appear  to  have  thrown  about  nine  pounds  more 
shot  in  weight  at  a  broadside,  than  the  Penguin,  the  latter  not  using  her 
spare  port.  As  respects  the  crews,  the  American  ship  had  some  ten  or 
fifteen  the  most  men  at  quarters.  In  tonnage  the  vessels  were  very  nearly 
equal. 

f  Now  Capt.  Conner. 

VOL.  II.— 40 


474  XAVAL  HISTORY. 

of  the  most  creditable  to  the  character  of  the  American  ma- 
rine, that  occurred  in  the  course  of  the  war.  The  vessels 
were  very  fairly  matched,  and  when  it  is  remembered  that 
an  English  flag-officer  had  sent  the  Penguin  on  especial 
service,  against  a  ship  believed  to  be  materially  heavier  than 
the  vessel  she  actually  encountered,  it  is  fair  to  presume  she 
was  thought  to  be,  in  every  respect,  in  her  own  service,  an 
efficient  cruiser.  Yet,  with  the  advantage  of  the  wind,  this 
ship  was  taken  in  22  minutes,  including  the  time  lost  while 
she  hung  on  the  Hornet's  quarter,  and  while  the  latter  was 
waring.  The  neatness  and  despatch  with  which  the  Amer- 
ican sloop  did  her  work,  the  coolness  with  which  she  met  the 
attempt  to  board,  and  the  accuracy  of  her  fire  and  handling, 
are  all  proofs  of  her  having  been  a  disciplined  man-of-war, 
and  of  the  high  condition  of  that  service  in  which  she  was 
one  of  the  favourites.  It  is  by  such  exploits,  that  the  cha- 
racter of  a  marine  is  most  effectually  proved. 

A  few  hours  after  the  action,  a  strange  and  suspiciously 
looking  sail  heaving  in  sight,  a  cable  was  taken  from  the 
Penguin,  and  the  Hornet  towed  her  some  distance  off  the 
the  land.  After  thoroughly  examining  the  prize,  and  getting 
out  of  her  all  the  stores  and  provisions  that  were  wanted, 
before  day-light,  on  the  morning  of  the  25lh,  Capt.  Biddle 
scuttled  her.  The  Hornet  then  stood  in  towards  the  island 
to  look  for  the  strange  sail,  which  was  found  to  be  the  Pea- 
cock, having  the  Tom  Bowline  in  company.  An  arrange- 
ment was  now  made,  by  which  the  latter  was  converted 
into  a  cartel,  and  was  sent  into  Rio  de  Janeiro  with  the 
prisoners. 

As  soon  as  he  was  released  from  this  encumbrance,  and 
from  the  great  drain  on  his  supplies,  Capt.  Biddle  was  ready 
to  continue  his  cruise.  This  spirited  officer  did  not  consider 
the  capture  of  a  vessel  of  the  same  class  of  his  own,  a  rea- 
son of  itself  for  returning  to  port;  but,  it  having  been  ascer- 
tained, by  means  of  the  Macedonian,  a  brig  which  sailed 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  475 

.  with  the  President,  that  the  latter  ship  was  probably  cap- 
tured, Capt.  Warrington  determined  to  proceed  on  the 
original  cruise,  with  the  remaining  vessels.  They  sailed, 
accordingly,  on  the  13th  of  April,  having  remained  at  the 
island  the  time  directed  in  the  instructions  of  Com.  Decatur. 

While  making  the  best  of  their  way  towards  the  Indian 
Seas,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  April,  the  two  ships 
then  being  in  lat.  38°  30  S.,  long.  33  E.,  the  Peacock  'made 
the  signal  of  a  stranger  to  the  southward  and  eastward. 
Both  the  sloops  of  war  made  sail  in  chase.  Though  the  wind 
was  light,  before  evening  it  was  found  that  the  stranger  was 
materially  nearer.  It  now  fell  calm,  and  the  chase  was  in 
sight  in  the  morning.  The  wind  coming  out  at  N.  W.,  the 
ships  ran  down  before  it,  with  studding  sails  on  both  sides, 
the  stranger  hauling  up,  apparently,  to  look  at  them.  The 
Peacock  was  the  fastest  vessel,  and  being  two  leagues  ahead 
at  half  past  2,  P.  M.,  she  was  observed  to  manifest  some 
caution  about  approaching  the  stranger,  when  the  Hornet 
took  in  her  starboard  light  sails,  and  hauled  up  for  her 
consort.  It  was  now  thought,  on  board  the  latter  ship,  that 
the  stranger  was  a  large  Indiaman,  and  that  the  Peacock 
was  merely  waiting  for  the  Hornet  to  come  up,  in  order  to 
attack  her.  But  an  hour  later  Capt.  Warrington  made  a 
signal  that  the  vessel  in  sight  was  a  !ine-of-battle  ship,  and 
an  enemy.  The  Hornet  immediately  hauled  close  upon  the 
wind,  the  stranger  then  on  her  lee-quarter,  distant  not  quite 
two  leagues,  the  Peacock  passing  ahead  and  soon  getting 
clear  of  him. 

It  was  now  seen  that  the  English  ship  sailed  very  fast, 
and  was  unusually  weatherly.  The  Hornet  being  more 
particularly  in  danger,  about  9  P.  M.,  Capt.  Biddle  felt 
it  necessary  to  begin  to  lighten,  his  vessel  being  crowded 
with  stores  taken  from  the  Penguin.  Twelve  tons  of  kent- 
ledge, a  quantity  of  shot,  some  heavy  spars,  and  the  sheet 
anchor  and  cable,  were  thrown  overboard.  By  2  A.  M., 


476  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  enemy  had  drawn  forward  of  the  lee-beam,  when  the 
Hornet  lacked  to  the  westward,  the  enemy  immediately 
following.  At  day-light  on  the  29th,  the  English  ship  was 
on  the  lee-quarter  of  the  American,  and  within  gun-shot. 
At  7  o'clock  he  had  English  colours  flying,  with  a  rear  ad- 
miral's flag  abroad,  and  he  commenced  firing.  The  shot 
passing  over  the  Hornet,  the  launch  was  cut  up  and  got- 
ten rid  of,  the  other  anchors  and  cables,  more  shot,  as 
many  heavy  articles  as  could  be1  come  at,  and  six  of  the 
guns  were  also  thrown  overboard.  By  9  o'clock,  the  ene- 
my had  dropped  so  far  astern  that  he  ceased  firing,  the 
concussion  produced  by  his  guns  having  deadened  the  wind. 
By  11  A  M.,  however,  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  was 
again  closing,  when  the  Hornet  threw7  overboard  all  the  re- 
maining guns  but  one,  the  boats,  most  of  her  shot,  all  the 
spare  spars,  and  as  many  other  things  from  off  the  deck  and 
from  below,  as  could  be  got  at.  She  also  cut  up  her  top- 
gallant forecastle,  and  threw  the  pieces  into  the  ocean.  At 
meridian,  the  enemy  had  got  within  a  mile,  and  he  began 
again  to  fire,  his  shot  flying  far  beyond  the  ship.  Fortu- 
nately but  three  struck  her.  One  passed  through  her  jib, 
another  plunged  on  her  deck,  glancing  and  lodging  forward, 
and  a  third  also  hulled  her.  Still  Capt.  Biddle  held  on,  de- 
termined not  to  give  up  his  ship  while  there  was  a  ray  of 
hope,  for  it  was  seen  that  the  enemy  dropped  astern  while 
firing.  About  2  P.  M.,  the  breeze  freshened,  and  got 
more  to  the  westward.  Previously  to  this,  the  wind,  by 
backing  to  the  south-east,  had  greatly  favoured  the  chase, 
but  it  now  brought  the  Hornet  more  to  windward,  and  she 
began  to  get  brisk  way  on  her.  At  sunset  the  stranger  was 
more  than  a  league  astern,  and  the  ship  wras  running  nine 
knots  throughout  the  night,-  it  blowing  in  squalls.  The  ene- 
my was  seen  at  intervals,  carrying  sail  in  chase,  but  at  day- 
light he  was  nearly  hull  down  astern.  At  half  past  9  A.  M., 
he  took  in  his  studding  sails,  reefed  his  topsails  and  hauled 


ITAVAL  HISTORY.  477 

off  to  the  eastward,  and  two  hours  later,  his  upper  sails 
had  dipped.  The  Hornet  had  now  no  anchor,  cable,  or  boat, 
and  but  one  gun,  and  she  made  the  best  of  her  way  to  New 
York,  where  she  arrived  on  the  9th  of  June. 

Capt.  Biddle  gained  nearly  as  much  reputation  for  the 
steadiness  and  skill  with  which  he  saved  his  ship,  on  this  oc- 
casion, as  for  the  fine  manner  in  which  he  had  fought  her  a 
few  weeks  earlier.  In  the  promptitude  with  which  he  had 
continued  his  cruise  after  capturing  a  vessel  of  equal  force, 
the  nation  traced  the  spirit  of  the  elder  officer  of  the  same 
name  and  family,  who  had  rendered  himself  so  conspicuous 
in  the  Revolution.  He  had  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
captain,  though  it  was  unknown  to  him,  before  he  took  the 
Penguin,  but  he  received  the  other  marks  of  approbation 
usual  to  such  occasions.  His  conduct  in  the  chase  will  be' 
better  appreciated,  when  it  is  added  that  his  ship  was  as 
near  the  enemy,  as  the  United  States  got  to  the  Macedo- 
nian, until  the  latter  was  fairly  crippled..  The  vessel  that 
chased  the  Hornet  was  the  Cornwallis  74,  bearing  the  flag 
of  an  officer  proceeding  to  the  East  Indies. 

The  Peacock  continued  her  cruise,  and  on  the  30th  of 
June,  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  she  fell  in  with  the  East  India 
Company's  cruiser,  Nautilus  14,  Capt.  Boyce,  and,  in  conse- 
quence of  Capt.  Warrington's  having  no  knowledge  of  the 
peace,  broadsides  were  exchanged,  when  the  Nautilus 
struck.  This  unfortunate  mistake  occurred  a  few  days 
after  the  period  set  for  the  termination  of  hostilities,  and  on 
ascertaining  that  a  treaty  of  peace  had  been  ratified  in 
March,  Capt.  Warrington  gave  up  the  Nautilus  the  next  day. 
The  latter  vessel  had  6  killed  and  8  wounded,  but  no  person 
was  hurt  on  board  the  Peacock,  which  ship  immediately  re- 
turned home. 

The  combat  between  the  Hornet  and  Penguin  was 
last  regular  action  of  the  war,  and  the  rencontre  between 

40* 


478  NAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  Peacock  and  Nautilus,  the  last  instance  of  hostilities 
between  the  belligerents.  When  the  Peacock  got  in, 
every  cruiser  that  had  been  out  against  the  English  had  re- 
turned to  port. 

The  burning  of  the  frigate  Columbia,  at  Washington,  and 
the  blockade  of  the  Java  in  the  Chesapeake,  had  induced  the 
government,  in  the  autumn  of  1814,  to  purchase  or  build  two 
squadrons  of  small  vessels,  one  of  which  was  to  be  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Porter,  and  the  other  by  Capt.  Perry.  The 
former  succeeded  in  buying  five  brigantines,  or  schooners, 
and  he  was  about  to  sail  with  them,  when  the  news  of  peace 
reached  the  country.  The  vessels,  which  formed  one  of  these 
flying  squadrons,  were  the  Firefly,  Capt.' Porter;  Spark, 
Lieut.  Com.  Gamble;  Torch,  Lieut.  Com.  Chauncey ;  Spitfire, 
Capt.  Cassin,*  and  Flambeau,  Lieut.  Com.  J.  B.  Nicolson. 
The  first  destination  of  this  force  was  the  West  Indies,  and 
it  was  understood  that  it  was  to  sail  with  orders  to  burn, 
sink,  and  destroy,  without  attempting  to  get  any  thing  in, 
except  in  very  extraordinary  cases. 

Capt.  Perry  was  less  successful  in  finding  suitable  vesT 
sels,  and  three  stout  brigs,  called  the  Boxer,  Saranac,  and 
Chippewa,  were  laid  down,  though  built  with  green  timber. 
Another,  called  the  Escape,  was  purchased,  and  named  the 
Prometheus ;  but  it  would  seem  that  a  fifth  vessel  had  not 
been  found  when  peace  was  proclaimed.  The  Boxer  was 
given  to  Lieut.  John  Porter,  the  Chippewa  to  Lieut.  G. 
Campbell  Read,  the  Saranac  to  Lieut.  Elton,  and  the  Pro- 
metheus to  Lieut.  Joseph  J.  Nicholson.  The  fifth  vessel 
would  have  been  Capt.  Perry's,  but  that  officer  returned  to 
the  Java,  as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  Flying  Squad- 
ron would  not  be  used  as  originally  intended. 

Thus  terminated  the  war  of  1812,  so  far  as  it  was  con- 

*This  officer  had  been  promoted  for  his  gallantry  in  the  battle  of 
Plattsburg1  Bay. 


XAVAL  HISTORY.  479 

nected  with  the  American  marine.  The  navy  came  out  of 
this  struggle  with  a  vast  increase  of  reputation.  The  bril- 
liant style  in  which  the  ships  had  been  carried  into  action, 
the  steadiness  and  rapidity  with  which  they  had  been 
handled,  and  the  fatal  accuracy  of  their  fire,  on  nearly 
every  occasion,  produced  a  new  era  in  naval  warfare. 
Most  of  the  frigate  actions  had  been  as  soon  decided  as  cir- 
cumstances would  at  all  allow,  and  in  no  instance  was  it 
found  necessary  to  keep  up  the  fire  of  a  sloop  of  war  an 
hour,  when  singly  engaged.  Most  of  the  combats  of  the 
latter,  indeed,  were  decided  in  about  half  that  time.  The 
execution  done  in  these  short  conflicts  was  often  equal  to 
that  made  by  the  largest  vessels  of  Europe,  in  general  ac- 
tions, and  in  some  of  them,  the  slain  and  wounded  com- 
prised a  very  large  proportion  of  the  crews. 

It  is  not  easy  to  say  in  which  nation  this  unlooked  for 
result  created  the  most  surprise,  America  or  England.  In 
the  first  it  produced  a  confidence  in  itself  that  had  been 
greatly  wanted,  but  which,  in  the  end,  perhaps,  degenerated 
to  a  feeling  of  self-esteem  and  security  that  were  not  with- 
out danger,  or  entirely  without  exaggeration.  The  last  was 
induced  to  alter  its  mode  of  rating,  adopting  one  by  no  means 
as  free  from  the  imputation  of  a  want  of  consistency  as  the 
one  it  abandoned,  and  it  altogether  changed  its  estimate  of 
the  force  of  single  ships,  as  well  as  of  the  armaments  of 
frigates.  The  ablest  and  bravest  captains  of  the  English 
fleet  were  ready  to  admit  that  a  new  power  was  about  to 
appear  on  the  ocean,  and  that  it  was  not  improbable, 
the  battle  for  the  mastery  of  the  seas  would  have  to  be 
fought  over  again.  In  short,  while  some  of  its  ignorant, 
presuming  and  boastful  were  disposed  to  find  excuses  for 
the  unexpected  nautical  reverses  which  Great  Britain  had 
met  with  in  this  short  war,  the  sagacious  and  reflect- 
ing saw  in  them  matter  for  serious  apprehension  and 
alarm.  They  knew  that  the  former  triumphs  of  their  admi- 


480  NAVAL  HISTORY.' 

rals  had  not  so  much  grown  out  of  an  unusual  ability  to  ma- 
noeuvre fleets,  as  in  the  national  aptitude  to  manage  single 
ships,  and  they  saw  the  proofs  of  the  same  aptitude,  in  the 
conduct  of  the  Americans  during  this  struggle,  improved  on 
by  a  skill  in  gunnery,that  had  never  before  been  so  uniformly 
manifested  in  naval  warfare.  In  a  word,  it  may  be  question- 
ed if  all  the  great  victories  of  the  last  European  wars  caused 
more  exultation  among  the  uninstructed  of  that  nation, 
than  the  defeats  of  this  gave  rise  to  misgivings  and  apprehen- 
sions, among  those  who  were  able  to  appreciate  causes  and 
to  anticipate  consequences  in  matters  so  purely  professional, 
as  the  construction,  powers,  and  handling  of  ships.  Many 
false  modes  of  accounting  for  the  novel  character  that 
had  been  given  to  naval  battles  was  resorted  to,  and  among 
other  reasons,  it  was  affirmed  that  the  American  vessels 
of  war  sailed  with  crews  of  picked  seamen.  That  a  na- 
tion which  practised  impressment  should  imagine  that  ano- 
ther in  which  enlistments  were  voluntary,  could  possess 
an  advantage  of  this  nature,  infers  a  strong  disposition  to 
listen  to  any  means  but  the  right  one  to  account  for  an 
unpleasant  truth.  It  is  not  known  that  a  single  vessel  left 
the  country,  the  case  of  the  Constitution  on  her  two  last 
cruises  excepted,  with  a  crew  that  could  be  deemed  extra- 
ordinary in  this  respect.  No  American  man-of-war  ever 
sailed  with  a  complement  composed  of  nothing  but  able  sea- 
men; and  some  of  the  hardest  fought  battles  that  occurred 
during  this  war,  were  fought  by  ships'  companies  that  were 
materially  worse  than  common.  The  people  which  manned 
the  vessels  on  Lake  Champlain,  in  particular,  were  of  a 
quality  much  inferior  to  those  usually  found  in  ships-of-war. 
Neither  were  the  officers,  in  general,  old  or  very  experienced. 
The  navy  itself  dated  but  fourteen  years  back,  when  the  war 
commenced;  and  some  of  the  commanders  began  their  pro- 
fessional careers,  several  years  after  the  first  appointments 
had  been  made.  Perhaps  one  half  of  the  lieutenants  in  the 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  481 

service  at  the  peace  of  1815,  had  first  gone  on  board  ship 
withini  six  years  from  the  declaration  of  the  war,  and  very 
many  of  them  within  three  or  four.  So  far  from  the  mid- 
shipmen having  been  masters  and  mates  of  merchantmen, 
,as  was  reported  at  the  time,  they  were  generally  youths 
that  first  went  from  the  ease  and  comforts  of  the  paternal 
home,  when  they  appeared  on  the  quarter-deck  of  a  man- 
of-war. 

That  the  tone  and  discipline  of  the  service  were  high,  is 
true  ;  but  it  must  be  ascribed  to  moral  and  not  to  physical 
causes;  to  that  aptitude  in  the  American  character  for  the 
sea,  which  has  been  so  constantly  manifested  from  the  day 
the  first  pinnace  sailed  along  the  coast  on  the  trading  voy- 
ages of  the  seventeenth  century,  down  to  the  present  mo- 
ment. 

THE  END. 


NOTE. 

•  — 

Since  printing,  it  has  been  ascertained  that  Mr.  Porter  did  not  join 
the  Philadelphia,  until  after  she  had  taken  the  Meshboha,  Mr.  Cox 
having  been  the  first  lieutenant  at  the  time.  The  American  prize  was 
the  Celia,  and  not  the  Celica ;  and  she,  too,  was  carried  into  Gibraltar, 
before  she  was  released. 

A  few  grammatical  and  typographical  errors  exist.  The  substitution 
of  the  adjectives  "previous"  and  "exclusive,"  for  the  adverbs  "  pre- 
viously" and  "  exclusively,"  is  a  fault  of  the  press,  and  not  of  the 
author. 

To  "ware,"  is  a  corruption  of  "to  veer,"  and  there  is  ancient  au- 
thority for  the  spelling  adopted ;  to  "  wear,"  being  an  unmeaning  term. 

"Pennant"  is  believed  to  be  derived  from  "pennon;"  "pendant" 
meaning  a  very  different  thing. 

Page  236,  Vol.  I.,  fourth  line  from  top,  read  "  righted,"  for  "righting." 

The  name  of  Gen.  Macomb  has  been  misspelled  M'Comb. 

In  consequence  of  transferring  to  the  manuscript,  by  mistake,  the 
result  of  a  computation  made  for  a  different  purpose,  the  total  of  the 
guns,  in  both  the  English  and  American  squadrons  on  Lake  Champlain, 
in  1814,  is  erroneously  given,  though  the  details  are  believed  to  be  ac- 
curate. The  American  squadron  had  80  guns,  instead  of  102,  as  print- 
ed; and  the  English  95,  96,  or  97,  as  it  may  have  possessed  12  or  13 
gun-boats, 'instead  of  116,  or  117,  &c. 


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